What Do You Think of the Cold Fusion Announcement?

The "cold fusion" of the 80s turned out to be bad science, maybe a fraud https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_fusion

More legitimate research into using fussion as an energy source has been ongoing for a long time. The latest announcement from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's National Ignition Facility is the first time anyone has gotten a positive energy yield from a fussion reaction other than in a bomb. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_power#2020s

That is certainly news of progress, but still a long ways from anything that we could use to generate electricity. I don't know if fusion power will ever become a reality, but it might. And if it does it could be a solution to the problem of burning so much fossil fuel.
 
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It’s a milestone, but there was more hype than benefit. This technique for creating ignition was a one off test and far from a repeatable process let alone a practical process for generating power.

There are lots of people working on fusion both private and federal which is a big plus. However, there are so many technical challenges with it the light at the end of the tunnel is just not visible yet.

I think it’s wishful thinking that fusion power will save us from Co2 runaway. We need to cut Co2 emissions now using established process. Unfortunately wind & solar cannot do it alone so we need to throw every tool in the box at it. Thorium-based nuclear power maybe a solution and investment in research should be made.

Also, there are many ways to cut Co2 emissions that we are not taking advantage. Politicians and governments keep talking about them but no actions are taken. EV’s don’t really cut carbon emission that much, if any!
 

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1955 said:
Unfortunately wind & solar cannot do it alone so we need to throw every tool in the box at it.
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I agree and believe the only viable option to make much difference is fission based nuclear power, we have the technology and we know the risks quite well. The risks are lower than for fossil fuels, but we, in the US anyway, lack the political will to do it. Fussion power is long term, if ever.
1955 said:
there was more hype than benefit.
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Nobody better at that than our DOE.
 
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So if I get this right, we could build Thorium fueled nuclear power plants, which would be better and safer than Uranium? But then, since Plutonium is a by-product of Uranium, wouldn’t we lose the Plutonium that can be used in nuclear arms?

Maybe I’m confused here. It’s been years since I studied Nuclear Science.
 
Been There said:
So if I get this right, we could build Thorium fueled nuclear power plants, which would be better and safer than Uranium?
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Try reading the link: Thorium-based nuclear power It lists all the Pros & Cons
Been There said:
But then, since Plutonium is a by-product of Uranium, wouldn’t we lose the Plutonium that can be used in nuclear arms?
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I don't know about that. I always thought they're two separate process and once you depleted the Uranium in the reactor it wasn't really good for anything else.
 
1955 said:
Also, there are many ways to cut Co2 emissions that we are not taking advantage. Politicians and governments keep talking about them but no actions are taken. EV’s don’t really cut carbon emission that much, if any!
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Anyone else see a connection? Co2 and talking politicians?
 
Try reading the link: Thorium-based nuclear power It lists all the Pros & Cons
1955 said:
I don't know about that. I always thought they're two separate process and once you depleted the Uranium in the reactor it wasn't really good for anything else.
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Plutonium can be used in satellites and in one if it’s firms, nuclear weapons. I know when I left the Marines, scientists were considering not using Plutonium in nukes and replacing it with some man made material using some other type of radioactive substance.

I used to wonder why more scientists didn’t blow themselves to smithereens working with and mixing these highly explosive and volatile explosives. I also thought these radicals in the Mid East that build their own explosives are either very intelligent or very lucky.
 
I have read an article on it. I think people want some real news about how to save the world since the dream of electrical cars for everyone is just a dream. Fusion is something for the future. It's good people have dream and people have hopes. In the last 2 years there has been a huge amount of doom and gloom news. I am tied of doom and gloom so I have really limited my viewing of the so called "NEWS."
 
What Do You Think of the Cold Fusion Announcement?
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Interesting, but still a long ways from getting out of the lab and getting into production.
I love the concept, being a tech enthusiast. I also like the idea of using the free energy that rains down from the Sun. When solar technology gets truly efficient then that will be as they say...."a thing". ;)
 
When I was in high school the son of a Russian immigrant physicist got up before the class and drew a diagram explaining nuclear fusion as an energy source. I sometimes wonder if today we are any closer to a practical application than we were in my high school days. Anyway, I’m not holding my breath. I doubt anyone currently posting to this forum will ever see their bathroom light lit by fusion energy.
 
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