Author Topic: One step closer to nuclear fusion  (Read 1619 times)

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Offline dpareja

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One step closer to nuclear fusion
« on: February 12, 2014, 05:32:34 pm »
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/nuclear-fusion-hits-energy-milestone-1.2534140

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For the first time, fuel for a nuclear fusion reaction has generated more energy than put into it – a scientific milestone.

Scientists and futurists have long dreamed of harnessing the energy of nuclear fusion, which powers the sun, here on Earth. An enormous amount of energy is released when multiple atoms collide and fuse to form a new, heavier atom — such as hydrogen fusing into helium. Hydrogen fuel is plentiful in sources such as seawater and the fusion process generates no radioactive waste, greenhouse gases or other dangerous byproducts.

However, for decades, scientists have been unsuccessful in generating the conditions for making fusion happen on Earth in a controlled manner that would allow it to be used in power plants.

The problem? While the hydrogen put out more energy than it absorbed from the lasers, it only absorbed a small portion of the total energy of the lasers, meaning that it still took more energy to get the fusion started than was released by the process.

Still, this is a pretty significant step toward controlled nuclear fusion.
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Offline Ultimate Paragon

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Re: One step closer to nuclear fusion
« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2014, 05:47:34 pm »
This is excellent news.  If we can achieve nuclear fusion, the world's current energy problems will be permanently over.

Offline Sigmaleph

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Re: One step closer to nuclear fusion
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2014, 08:22:50 pm »
Huzzah!
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Offline Askold

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Re: One step closer to nuclear fusion
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2014, 04:12:56 am »
Hooray for SCIENCE!
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