Sandia Labs Takes First Steps Toward Fusion

robosmall writes "Sandia Labs has successfully demostrated the emission of neutrons (a side effect of thermonuclear fusion) from a BB-sized capsule of deuterium using using their venerable Z-Machine (eye-candy!). With this achievement they enter the race to create sustained fusion reactions."

Comments

Well, here's something positive on energy...

[PrimeWaveZ]

I think that should fusion become viable for providing energy to the masses, then fuel cells could also be practical soon thereafter.

Due to the laws of the conservation of energy, one can electrolyze (is that the proper word?) as much water as they need to get the hydrogen for fuel cells, but you still have to use energy to do it. That energy would have to be provided by some other means, such as coal and natural gas, et. al, solar, wind, or nuclear.

Solar and wind are great ideas and there are many inroads being made. Nuclear works now, but it's dirty and no new plants have been built for ~25 years. We're trying to move away from fossil fuels, so boo on them.

Fusion, while having many prominent failures, would be a wonderful adjunct to solar and wind. Powering the hydrolysis plants to make cleaner fuels for the masses would kick ass!

idiot moderators

[cryofan2]

I will explain a bit more slowly:
it doesn't matter all that much if we do develop fusion power b/c it will be completely under the control of CorpGovMedia.
Why should they offer fusion power cheaper than its primary competitor, oil? If oil costs N cents for 100 KWatts, then that is how much fusion power, even if it only costs N/100 cents to provide 100 KWatts.
THis is because we have no control over CorpGovMedia....