Fusion

[El Capitan]

Yup right along the thinking man would never fly and we’d never go to the moon.

Wonder what the pilgrims would have thought if you described what a cellphone is.

 

[El Capitan]

Not even a decade away.

https://www.ief.org/news/how-close-are-we-to-unlocking-the-limitless-energy-of-nuclear-fusion

 

[km1125]

Not even a decade away.

https://www.ief.org/news/how-close-are-we-to-unlocking-the-limitless-energy-of-nuclear-fusion

Yes, along with the caveat: "However, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project has yet to generate electricity for consumers, and critics, including the European Court of Auditors, recently warned the project could be subject to further cost increases and delays. "

 

[ttmott]

Not even a decade away.

https://www.ief.org/news/how-close-are-we-to-unlocking-the-limitless-energy-of-nuclear-fusion

Well, I hope you are right. Still, history isn't on track with what that article alludes. I suspect a lot of the press is centered around funding... If we are so close why the push and money to wind and solar energy?

 

[Stee6043]

I got called misinformed when I used the term "decades away". You guys bring some clout, I like it

 

[bajturner]

Not even a decade away.

https://www.ief.org/news/how-close-are-we-to-unlocking-the-limitless-energy-of-nuclear-fusion

The last paragraph is the one to pay attention to:

"Nuclear fusion technology is still some way off being ready to be scaled up for commercial use, but innovation is moving at pace as we grapple with one of the toughest challenges in science. And governments are playing the long game, investing for the mid- to long-term in its extraordinary potential rewards."

"...some way off..." is generally considered to be decades.

 

[Blueone]

"...some way off..." is generally considered to be decades.

Just when we would be ready for it or would need it…

 

[km1125]

The last paragraph is the one to pay attention to:

"Nuclear fusion technology is still some way off being ready to be scaled up for commercial use, but innovation is moving at pace as we grapple with one of the toughest challenges in science. And governments are playing the long game, investing for the mid- to long-term in its extraordinary potential rewards."

"...some way off..." is generally considered to be decades.

Yep. Somewhere around here I think I have an old Popular Science or Popular Mechanics magazine with essentially the same paragraph that you posted above, and it's from the late 60's or early 70's!!

Personally, I think we'll find that the real solution to fusion is going to be based more on a proton-boron-11 model rather than a tritium/deuterium model. The tritium/deuterium models must end up being huge centralized industrial-scale behemoths and might be preferred for some applications, but not what the world really needs. Something like the proton-boron-11 with "direct conversion" (to electrical power, which bypasses the need for a separate steam turbine and alternator) could be scaled DOWN so it actually could be used in a house or a car or even a spacecraft.

 

[Steve S]

They are looking to use Dilithium Crystals as a fuel for a Fusion Engine...

https://www.businessinsider.com/new...-on-star-trek-like-dilithium-crystals-2012-10

 

[OllieC]

Surprised Mr. Fusion hasn't come up yet...

 

[dvx216]

So this Post isn't about Garmin radios.