US scientists achieve net energy gain for second time in a fusion reaction

L4sBot@lemmy.worldmod to Technology@lemmy.world – 253 points –
US scientists achieve net energy gain for second time in a fusion reaction
theguardian.com

US scientists achieve net energy gain for second time in a fusion reaction::The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s National Ignition Facility achieved the feat using lasers to fuse two atoms

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Maybe the easiest method is to create the fusion reaction in space because then you don't need to worry about containment. Have a big ball of fusion going nonstop and then beam that energy to earth.

Then have collectors which receive that beamed down energy. You could put them everywhere... Maybe close to where you need the energy like directly on top of buildings and houses.

And blast the whole planet with radiation? Are you crazy?

Won't someone think of the Irish people on beaches?

Admittedly, you'd need a layer of ozone (self sustaining so long as you don't have some kind of chemical that causes ozone to not form, but who'd have that?). And probably some kind of hot liquid metal contraption in the middle of the earth, sustained by, like Uranium decay or tidal friction or something, to generate a magnetic field to protect us.

Some Irish people would probably still die of radiation poisoning on beaches, but that's a sacrifice the rest of us are willing to make.

You are adding quite a big layer of complexity there... As astronauts will tell you, even screwing a screw is pretty challenging out there. Maintaining an unrestrained fusion reaction looks like extra challenging

Edit. Sorry, I missed the joke

He’s making a joke. Talking about solar.

Ahhh, ok, thanks. Stupid me.

Nowadays people come up with the most weird stuff on the internet, I really thought it was a serious idea.

My bad

Yes, that's a good complementary energy source.

With it very low efficency and bad predictability, you still need a good stable and predictable baseline energy production.