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I am urprised how much money suddenly is available where other future-critical projects are starved of funding while needing just a fraction of that amount, spe

I am urprised how much money suddenly is available where other future-critical projects are starved of funding while needing just a fraction of that amount, specifically nuclear fusion.

trueismywork 2y ago
Nuclear fusion definitely needs more than a trillion
mogoh 2y ago
I was with you until your last two words.
danmaz74 2y ago
Nuclear fusion has no clear path to reach viability with just a fraction of that amount, not even close.
bArray 2y ago
It's the same in the UK. Pensioners had their heating allowance removed to plug a £22 bn 'black hole', whilst tonnes of money is pledged to AI. I can imagine the EU is in a similar state.
- spwa4 2y ago
  Removing AI investments will not plug a 22 bn "black hole". This is 200 million europe wide, and the UK is at best 1/6th of Europe if we're very generous.
  - voidr 2y ago
    Your comment is misinformed, you are unfamiliar with the UK context here, but even if your comment would be correct, 200/6 = 33 EUR that would most definitely plug that black hole, however that is not what the comment is about, please look at the actual context before commenting.
  - bArray 2y ago
    The point being made is not about removing AI investments. The OP's comment: > I am urprised how much money suddenly is available where other future-critical projects are starved of funding while needing just a fraction of that amount, specifically nuclear fusion. The point is that money is found easily for such projects, whilst other important projects go unfunded due to a supposed lack of money. There is the appearance of dishonesty regarding budget availability.
- voidr 2y ago
  The UK is also sending eye-watering amounts of money to Ukraine without a problem, while everyone else is pulling out of the project. There was also the plan go give the Chagos islands to a country that is ~2000km away and pay them billions for the privilege of using them. There is always money to chase newspaper headlines.
  - freefaler 2y ago
    Many very costly things could happen if you forget the Munich lesson. It's easier to stop Putin there than to let him have it and spend 10x on the next war.
    - voidr 2y ago
      Many very costly things happen if we forget the Afghanistan lesson, where an insane amount money was plowed into a military riddled with corruption that folded without a fight once the US abandoned the area. On paper the Afghan forces were more numerous and better equipped, in reality most of those soldiers collected their pay checks and went home.
      - spwa4 2y ago
        Ukraine's army and soldiers have done everything, above and beyond what could be expected of them, and none "collected their pay checks and went home".
        voidr 2y ago
        Well except that 200 000+ who did not feel like sacrificing themselves for a media stunt like Kursk or Krynky and decided to desert. Zelensky doesn't know where at least 100bn went, that's over half the amount they were given by the US, we didn't even ask about the EU funds. You can also look at a map and see that we are giving them money and they are losing ground, it's not working.
        spwa4 2y ago
myrmidon 2y ago
What makes fusion research "future critical"? I honestly don't see any realistic timeline where fusion energy contributes >10% to any nations electricity grid in 2040. Sure, throwing money at the problem might accelerate things marginally, but you might as well build out renewables, battery storage and invest into grid connectivity, with greater effect (over the next decades), less risk and faster RoI.

I am urprised how much money suddenly is available where other future-critical projects are starved of funding while needing just a fraction of that amount, specifically nuclear fusion.

trueismywork 2y ago

Nuclear fusion definitely needs more than a trillion

mogoh 2y ago

I was with you until your last two words.

danmaz74 2y ago

Nuclear fusion has no clear path to reach viability with just a fraction of that amount, not even close.

bArray 2y ago

It's the same in the UK. Pensioners had their heating allowance removed to plug a £22 bn 'black hole', whilst tonnes of money is pledged to AI. I can imagine the EU is in a similar state.

spwa4 2y ago
Removing AI investments will not plug a 22 bn "black hole". This is 200 million europe wide, and the UK is at best 1/6th of Europe if we're very generous.
- voidr 2y ago
  Your comment is misinformed, you are unfamiliar with the UK context here, but even if your comment would be correct, 200/6 = 33 EUR that would most definitely plug that black hole, however that is not what the comment is about, please look at the actual context before commenting.
- bArray 2y ago
  The point being made is not about removing AI investments. The OP's comment: > I am urprised how much money suddenly is available where other future-critical projects are starved of funding while needing just a fraction of that amount, specifically nuclear fusion. The point is that money is found easily for such projects, whilst other important projects go unfunded due to a supposed lack of money. There is the appearance of dishonesty regarding budget availability.
voidr 2y ago
The UK is also sending eye-watering amounts of money to Ukraine without a problem, while everyone else is pulling out of the project. There was also the plan go give the Chagos islands to a country that is ~2000km away and pay them billions for the privilege of using them. There is always money to chase newspaper headlines.
- freefaler 2y ago
  Many very costly things could happen if you forget the Munich lesson. It's easier to stop Putin there than to let him have it and spend 10x on the next war.
  - voidr 2y ago
    Many very costly things happen if we forget the Afghanistan lesson, where an insane amount money was plowed into a military riddled with corruption that folded without a fight once the US abandoned the area. On paper the Afghan forces were more numerous and better equipped, in reality most of those soldiers collected their pay checks and went home.
    - spwa4 2y ago
      Ukraine's army and soldiers have done everything, above and beyond what could be expected of them, and none "collected their pay checks and went home".
      - voidr 2y ago
        Well except that 200 000+ who did not feel like sacrificing themselves for a media stunt like Kursk or Krynky and decided to desert. Zelensky doesn't know where at least 100bn went, that's over half the amount they were given by the US, we didn't even ask about the EU funds. You can also look at a map and see that we are giving them money and they are losing ground, it's not working.
        spwa4 2y ago

myrmidon 2y ago

What makes fusion research "future critical"? I honestly don't see any realistic timeline where fusion energy contributes >10% to any nations electricity grid in 2040. Sure, throwing money at the problem might accelerate things marginally, but you might as well build out renewables, battery storage and invest into grid connectivity, with greater effect (over the next decades), less risk and faster RoI.