5 ms·

> What if the next level of yet unknown physics requires building a machine that's as large as the equator? Or larger than anything that can be built on earth?

> What if the next level of yet unknown physics requires building a machine that's as large as the equator? Or larger than anything that can be built on earth? Well, one thought is that we already have access to much higher energies - via cosmic radiation. Of course, a lot about that radiation is uncontrolled, which makes things difficult... There's much to be done with lower energy experiments, including understanding the weak nuclear force and possibly LENR.

phkahler 8y ago
I'm beginning to think governments are afraid of LENR for a couple reasons. One, it would disrupt the balance of power in the world on multiple levels. And two, it may turn out that nuclear weapons could be built cheap and easy. That later thought is frightening.
- Scipio_Afri 8y ago
  If by governments you mean people who are tasked with thinking about the negative implications of policy and technology on other human beings and (hopefully) opting to act in ways to minimizing negative consequences for society while balancing the needs and human rights of people, then yes.
- root_axis 8y ago
  This is conspiracy thinking unfounded by evidence. Nobody is scared of "LENR" and if the research surrounding it had even a little credibility then it would be the #1 national security concern for every 1st world nation.
  - phkahler 8y ago
    Why would it be a national security concern?
    - root_axis 8y ago
      Because such a fantastical technology would have gigantic military and economic implications for any nation in possession of it. If any credible researchers could demonstrate a plausible path towards such a discovery scientists would be up to their eyes in DARPA research grants.
      - phkahler 8y ago
        True, but I'd also posit that such research would be kept out of public view for exactly the reasons you stated. That means all we'd be seeing is the half-baked approaches by people who don't quite get it and can't seem to get high quality, useful, and reproducible results.
kevinpet 8y ago
For anyone else who had to go look it up, LENR is the new name for cold fusion.
- Recurecur 8y ago
  LENR is a much better name for a still little-understood phenomenon. From the NASA archives: "Low Energy Nuclear Reactions is a source of thermal energy. It is an immature technology that requires further research to determine the best propulsion system integration on a vehicle platform. LENR has the highest specific energy of the alternative energy sources mentioned at about 51,000,000 Wh/kg.3 This is a conservative estimate from the recent LENR reactor test that was conducted in March 2013." https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20150000549.pdf https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/201500...

phkahler 8y ago

I'm beginning to think governments are afraid of LENR for a couple reasons. One, it would disrupt the balance of power in the world on multiple levels. And two, it may turn out that nuclear weapons could be built cheap and easy. That later thought is frightening.

Scipio_Afri 8y ago
If by governments you mean people who are tasked with thinking about the negative implications of policy and technology on other human beings and (hopefully) opting to act in ways to minimizing negative consequences for society while balancing the needs and human rights of people, then yes.
root_axis 8y ago
This is conspiracy thinking unfounded by evidence. Nobody is scared of "LENR" and if the research surrounding it had even a little credibility then it would be the #1 national security concern for every 1st world nation.
- phkahler 8y ago
  Why would it be a national security concern?
  - root_axis 8y ago
    Because such a fantastical technology would have gigantic military and economic implications for any nation in possession of it. If any credible researchers could demonstrate a plausible path towards such a discovery scientists would be up to their eyes in DARPA research grants.
    - phkahler 8y ago
      True, but I'd also posit that such research would be kept out of public view for exactly the reasons you stated. That means all we'd be seeing is the half-baked approaches by people who don't quite get it and can't seem to get high quality, useful, and reproducible results.

kevinpet 8y ago

For anyone else who had to go look it up, LENR is the new name for cold fusion.

Recurecur 8y ago
LENR is a much better name for a still little-understood phenomenon. From the NASA archives: "Low Energy Nuclear Reactions is a source of thermal energy. It is an immature technology that requires further research to determine the best propulsion system integration on a vehicle platform. LENR has the highest specific energy of the alternative energy sources mentioned at about 51,000,000 Wh/kg.3 This is a conservative estimate from the recent LENR reactor test that was conducted in March 2013." https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20150000549.pdf https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/201500...