4 ms·

Mmmh, some of the claims in that article are debunked in this neat video from MIT (though over 1h long): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0KuAx1COEk https://www

Mmmh, some of the claims in that article are debunked in this neat video from MIT (though over 1h long): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0KuAx1COEk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0KuAx1COEk

Xorlev 9y ago
Which claims does it refute? I'm not able to watch the video, but I'm interested.
- shaqbert 9y ago
  E.g. the nuclear waste problem: With the right shielding you'll get to radioactive waste that is much easier to handle and usually decaying enough in a 60 year time span. As opposed to the millennia from fission products. So yeah it is a problem, but manageable. Or the parasitic power consumption problem. Yes, fusion reactors require a lot of energy to power that magnetic field, the cooling for the magnets, but the whole point of fusion research is to get an order of magnitude out of the energy put in, i.e. a G-factor which is > 1. Right now we don't have a fusion reactor that manages G >1, but Iter has the potential to operate around G = 5, and before long some smart kid will figure out a design that gives you G > 10. The tritium breeding problem. There are indeed some smart solutions like a FLiBe salt blanket fill. Which also is great at absorbing the neutron "waste". The nuclear proliferation problem. This is more of a theoretical problem, as there are way easier pathways to a bomb. E.g. the thorium fuel cycle to breed a U-233 based bomb is doable even with tech from the 1960'ies.
leephillips 9y ago
All his major claims seem correct to me, but my experience in fusion-related research was on the theoretical side. Is there a written summary of what is supposed to be incorrect?
mrfusion 9y ago
I think someone needs to let bill gates know about this video. It's very promising and well planned and it really just needs a minimal investment. Also someone needs to write this stuff up into an engaging article. It's hard to spread the word with an hour long video.
politicalthrow 9y ago
That video gives a terrific overview of the landscape of the fusion field as it exists pretty much right now. It's an extremely coherent talk. It's long but worth the watch.
- senectus1 9y ago
  it was mesmerising.. this video needs to spread more.

Mmmh, some of the claims in that article are debunked in this neat video from MIT (though over 1h long): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0KuAx1COEk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0KuAx1COEk

Xorlev 9y ago

Which claims does it refute? I'm not able to watch the video, but I'm interested.

shaqbert 9y ago
E.g. the nuclear waste problem: With the right shielding you'll get to radioactive waste that is much easier to handle and usually decaying enough in a 60 year time span. As opposed to the millennia from fission products. So yeah it is a problem, but manageable. Or the parasitic power consumption problem. Yes, fusion reactors require a lot of energy to power that magnetic field, the cooling for the magnets, but the whole point of fusion research is to get an order of magnitude out of the energy put in, i.e. a G-factor which is > 1. Right now we don't have a fusion reactor that manages G >1, but Iter has the potential to operate around G = 5, and before long some smart kid will figure out a design that gives you G > 10. The tritium breeding problem. There are indeed some smart solutions like a FLiBe salt blanket fill. Which also is great at absorbing the neutron "waste". The nuclear proliferation problem. This is more of a theoretical problem, as there are way easier pathways to a bomb. E.g. the thorium fuel cycle to breed a U-233 based bomb is doable even with tech from the 1960'ies.

leephillips 9y ago

All his major claims seem correct to me, but my experience in fusion-related research was on the theoretical side. Is there a written summary of what is supposed to be incorrect?

mrfusion 9y ago

I think someone needs to let bill gates know about this video. It's very promising and well planned and it really just needs a minimal investment. Also someone needs to write this stuff up into an engaging article. It's hard to spread the word with an hour long video.

politicalthrow 9y ago

That video gives a terrific overview of the landscape of the fusion field as it exists pretty much right now. It's an extremely coherent talk. It's long but worth the watch.

senectus1 9y ago
it was mesmerising.. this video needs to spread more.