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National Ignition Facility is Firing Up

Posted by michael on from the mr.-fusion dept.

VernonNemitz writes "Over near San Francisco in California, USA, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is starting to reach the end of 15 years of development work on the National Ignition Facility. The goal is to use 192 high-powered laser beams to blast a pellet of frozen hydrogen isotopes, turning it into a tiny (and thus safe) hydrogen bomb. Currently 4 of the lasers have been commissioned for use in tests; the eventual goal is to get more energy out of the exploding pellet than is dumped into it. Personally I think they'd have an easier time of it if they combined different ideas, but what do I know?"

5 of 58 comments (clear)

  1. Explosive thread ;) by djsmiley · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    This could become quite hot in here?

    An explosive thread i feel coming on!.

    --
    - http://www.milkme.co.uk
  2. Security / Viruses by immortal · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    My time is more valuble doing something productive, instead of wasting it cleaning virus, spyware, and spam zombies.

    --
    "Your having a bad day when the voices in your head put you on hold"
    1. Re:Security / Viruses by immortal · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Damn, clicked the wrong thing. How do I delete my own message?

      --
      "Your having a bad day when the voices in your head put you on hold"
  3. Re:Reagan taking a dirt nap by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I thought that wasn't until Friday...isn't he lying in state until the funeral, and then he gets a final plane ride before taking his dirt nap?

  4. Re:Reagan taking a dirt nap by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    As the campasinos he killed in Nicaragua look down from heaven