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Mine The Moon For Helium-3

Rob Kennedy writes "A story at The Daily Cardinal is reporting that UW-Madison researchers are looking to mine the moon for helium-3 as an energy source, which supposedly would yield about 1000 times more energy per pound than coal. Although there are several hurdles that would need to be cleared, The Associated Press mentions one catch in particular: 'The researchers still are working on building a helium-3 reactor that would produce more energy than it takes in.' Indeed. SciScoop has a more in-depth discussion of the prospect."

18 of 644 comments (clear)

  1. In other news by Neophytus · · Score: 3, Funny

    Balloon sellers go out of business as prices of helium plummet
    18 year old choirboys whose voices broke 4 years ago rejoyce

  2. How high? by macshune · · Score: 4, Funny

    If inhaling Helium-1 makes my voice high, Helium-2 makes it higher, how high will Helium-3 make it?

    1. Re:How high? by El · · Score: 5, Funny

      Let's put is this way... have you heard the BeeGees?

      --

      "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney

    2. Re:How high? by el-spectre · · Score: 4, Funny

      But how exactly do you get an anti-neutron?

      Well, duh... eBay...

      --
      "Faith: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel." - A.B.
  3. THE MOON IS FALLING!!!!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    great now whats going to keep it floating up there??? :)

  4. Halliburton anyone? by Attitude+Adjuster · · Score: 2, Funny

    Any other cynics out there thinking some Haliburton exec read some popular science mag and talk Cheney/Bush to annex the Moon for them quick?

    1. Re:Halliburton anyone? by zulux · · Score: 3, Funny

      Any other cynics out there thinking some Haliburton exec read some popular science mag and talk Cheney/Bush to annex the Moon for them quick?

      Noam?? Is that you??

      --

      Moneyed corporations, non-working 'poor' and criminal prisoners are turning productive citizens into tax-slaves.

  5. fusion is only a few decades away... by js7a · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...just like it was 50 years ago.

  6. This could be bad by TigerTime · · Score: 2, Funny

    If we take all the helium off the moon, then what's gonna hold it up there!? gasp! cringe!

  7. Re:Is there REALLY anything wrong with Fission pow by Carnildo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is there REALLY anything wrong with Fission power?

    Yes. It's politically and socially unacceptable.

    --
    "They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
  8. obligatory homerism by clmensch · · Score: 5, Funny
    "In this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics!"
    - Homer J. Simpson

    --
    There is no gravity...the earth just sucks.
  9. related story.... by macshune · · Score: 2, Funny

    Two UW Madison Professors announced plans today to help supplement waning global cheese supplies by mining the moon for cheese.

    "The moon has a virtually unlimited supply of cheese, most notably the Pepperjackus Mons. This literal hill-of-cheese is an area that is the size of Rhode Island and comprised entirely of pepperjack," said Professor Klaus von Berrywinkle.

    Cheese is typically mined in third-world countries with little regard for safety standards or labor laws. Authoritarian regimes usually hold sway over the cheese mines as well and placating them is a full-time priority for many governments.

    "Unfortunately, cheddar is in short supply on the moon, but it is feasible that there is a cache of it somewhere that has eluded our che-dar," chortled Professor Eniac van Bumblybum.

    The scientists later added that the supply of cheese on the moon would last the Earth thousands of years at the current rate of consumption.

    "Although it would last quite awhile at the current rate of consumption, the past has shown that when you remove constraints consumption rises dramtically. I would not be surprised if, given a more efficient method of transportation, all the cheese on the moon would be eaten within 3-5 generations," Berrywinkle portended.

  10. Re:Is there REALLY anything wrong with Fission pow by Carnildo · · Score: 2, Funny

    Considering that there have been zero civilian deaths from nuclear power use in the US, and that thousands die every years from diseases brought about by coal-burning, I have to wonder what type of design they want. Perhaps a nuclear power plant that produces power but doesn't actually have a reactor?

    Yes.

    And no, I'm not being funny here.

    --
    "They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
  11. In related news... by weeboo0104 · · Score: 1, Funny

    NASA announces plans to mine methane from Uranus.

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    It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. -Frederick Douglass
  12. What I Wonder... by Flwyd · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is how they'll land a spaceship with that much helium on board. :-)

    --
    Ceci n'est pas une signature.
  13. Re:Slightly more sarcastical view by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    This guy is a dipshit
    you're the one using words like "sarcastical."

    it's sarcastic, dipshit.

  14. Re:On a more serious note by core_blimey · · Score: 3, Funny

    okay so it's "over a million tons for every man, woman, and child on Earth!" But what's that in terms we can all understand?

    How many VW's is that, or library on Congresses?

    --
    In democracy your vote counts. In feudalism your count votes.
  15. Re:Is there REALLY anything wrong with Fission pow by estherandherdoll · · Score: 2, Funny

    Burns: Homer, your bravery and quick thinking have turned a potential Chernobyl into a mere Three Mile Island. Bravo!