Can fusion be far off now?

[Bo D]

This is exciting stuff! (ok, I'm a geek.)

This could make controlled nuclear fusion a reality.

http://www.scientificcomputing.com/news-DS-Age-old-Physics-Puzzle-Solved-030311.aspx?et_cid=1224586&et_rid=41373174&linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.scientificcomputing.com%2fnews-DS-Age-old-Physics-Puzzle-Solved-030311.aspx


Scientists have made a breakthrough in quantum physics that will have significance for decades, says one of the top three finalists for a 2010 Scientist of the Year award, Professor Igor Bray. Bray's research team has created a new Surface Integral Formulation of Scattering Theory that is valid for both short- and long-ranged potentials. Bray notes that, because the problems relate to very fundamental physics, its applications are enormous.

...

The International Atomic Energy Agency's ITER project aims to create an inexhaustible energy supply for humanity, and scientists are trying to replicate the heat of the sun on earth.

The idea of fusion has been around since the 1950s. However, today's technology enables scientists to work with temperatures of around 100 million degrees Celsius.

"The difficulty here is that, there is so much energy coming out from these processes, it's difficult to contain and manage them," says Bray.

"We don't want it to blow up, we don't want it to hurt anybody, but we do want it to boil a kettle of water."

[Palehorse]

That is a major hurdle they have just eliminated!

However, I suspect that the hurdle of congressional support within this country for alternative energy sources will present a far more formidable opponent to progression. . . 

[Henry Hawk]

I must admit, this goes RIGHT over my head.  But, I hope these guys are extra careful and don't do a frankenstien, and create MORE than they can handle. 

[The Troll]

I must admit, this goes RIGHT over my head.  But, I hope these guys are extra careful and don't do a frankenstien, and create MORE than they can handle. 

  To me it sound like they made a major discovery, but they still a long, long way from bringing us electricity to our homes.

  I would like to see the government start a program for this like they did for the interstate highways or the journey to the moon.  We all need to work to get us off of oil.

[Henry Hawk]

  To me it sound like they made a major discovery, but they still a long, long way from bringing us electricity to our homes.

  I would like to see the government start a program for this like they did for the interstate highways or the journey to the moon.  We all need to work to get us off of oil.

, once again, we can every once in a while find a thing or two to agree on.

[sally]

I wonder how long it will be before a monkey wrench is thrown into the discovery. Wouldn't it be good for the children if we stop this crazy thing? (I'm joking).

[The Troll]

I wonder how long it will be before a monkey wrench is thrown into the discovery. Wouldn't it be good for the children if we stop this crazy thing? (I'm joking).

  What I'm afraid of is, once they develop it, the oil companies will get it and still have the American people by the throat.