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Vicariously Tour the National Ignition Facility

Posted by timothy on from the semi-disturbing-place-name dept.

Dave Bullock writes "The National Ignition Facility (NIF) has been discussed several times over the years on Slashdot and just recently fired all of its 192 lasers. LLNL scientists predict NIF will attain ignition (controlled nuclear explosion) in 2010. For now, take a look at the photos I shot of NIF for Wired.com when I toured it earlier this year."

10 of 97 comments (clear)

  1. 192 lasers? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Geez, how much does it take to keep all those sharks fed?

    1. Re:192 lasers? by fosterNutrition · · Score: 2, Funny

      We are extremely excited.

      Not as excited as the lasers, I'll bet.

  2. 2010? by lobiusmoop · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's a long time to be chargin thah lazers

    --
    "I bless every day that I continue to live, for every day is pure profit."
  3. Re:"controlled nuclear explosion" by Cold+hard+reality · · Score: 5, Funny

    Because it's controlled.

  4. Warning light? by johannesg · · Score: 4, Funny

    Throughout the entire NIF facility, emergency shutdown panels listing the status of the laser (using both text and light) provide a level of safety for the hapless scientist or technician who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time before a firing of the lasers.

    Well, I think I speak for everyone here when I say that it was thoughtful of them to provide a warning light before they turn it on... ;-)

    I also hope they have a webcam, especially in that room with the giant tubes (lasers). When the portal storm finally starts I'd like to see those cool lasers ripping through walls, headcrabs, and hapless scientists before I'm turned into a zombie myself ;-)

    1. Re:Warning light? by MaskedSlacker · · Score: 3, Funny

      But he's apparently fantastic in bed, without having to actually be there.

  5. My one simple request... by grepya · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... was to have missiles with frickin lasers attached to their warheads.

  6. This is horrible news. by chrispycreeme · · Score: 5, Funny

    The National Ignition Facility (NIF) has been discussed several times over the years on Slashdot and just recently fired all of its 192 lasers.

    You know the economy is bad when even lasers are losing their jobs..

    *Ba-dum-cha*

  7. Running windows!! by jackchance · · Score: 4, Funny
    Did anyone else notice that they are running windows in the control room?

    That frightens me.

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    1. Re:Running windows!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Can windows even run for this long reliably?