It is simply stupid that we have no project for a new Fusion reactor in development. It is the most viable alternative energy, yet we invest nearly nothing in it.

Theres really nothing more to say about it, its just dumb that we have not yet caught on to this. I would be suprised to hear a good reason why not to invest in such a fruitful project.

i think usa is suporting european researches abaut fusion reactors.

Well, ask your own politicians why they are playing such a stupid "in and out" game when it comes to the most promising project called ITER where countries from all over the world join to construct in South France a large scale fusion test reactor.

Currently the US is half out again (they call it "suspended" membership or so) at its own wish. Its already the second time it left that project in the near past. With an unreliable partner like this who does not know what he wants, its no real fun. Decide finally, are you in or are you out, but don't play around like this, it doesn't improve the US reputation.

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"Every country gets the cuisine it deserves"

Actually, Princeton University has done a lot of research on fusion reactors for the last 30 years. The initital problem was how to confine the hot plasma generated by the fusion. Laser & Magnetic bottles were tried, but could only contain the reaction for a short fraction of a second. Therefore there was no "chain reaction" possible.
Finally, someone borrowed an idea from the atom smashers that particle physisists use. These are round circles, with the magnetic field running in a loop. The hope is to contain a continious reaction within the loop.
I haven't kept up with the field so I don't know the status of the research now. But it should be a collaborative effort by countries without oil. I have no proof, but I fairly believe that US oil interests and OPEC country interests are using all their political authority to hinder the research. So it is a tough row to hoe....especially since 90% of the US population have no idea what this thread is about. It's not exactly front page news.

They are trying to create short reactions with an overall postive energy output. I dont know how far this has been gone yet. But I am not aware of a large scale reactor to be constructed of this sort so far. If someone knows more, it would be interesting to hear about it.

Its certainly not front page news indeed

I don't buy into conspiracy stuff however. Fusion is simply such an awfully complex and difficult process.

Regarding the Tomawak type of reactors things are on plan for a quite large reactor that is aimed to prove the ability of such reactors to be used for electrical power production. For this its aim is to establish a continuous reaction in this reactor (Well it should at least be maintained for up to 6 and half minutes). Even though no electricity will be produced the net output in heat energy is planned to supercede the energy imput by the factor of 5 to 10. The project is called ITER.

The agenda and time line is already on track. Its ready to start construction already (by large) and the first plasma operations are planned to start by 2016. Sounds like a long time, but don't forget that already the construction itself is large R&D effort as well.

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"Every country gets the cuisine it deserves"

The US Department of Energy has a nuclear fusion program. Yes, it leaves much to be desired but at least it exists.

DOE Office of Science - Fusion Energy Sciences Homepage

^^ Didn't Congress cut back budgets for fusion programs in a large style?

Its funny they host ITER still as first picture on the right, where they have actually canceled the entire budget for it.

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"Every country gets the cuisine it deserves"

LMAO! Ok, what modern, non-3rd world country doesnt use oil and can afford research like this?



Well I can vouch for ExxonMobil (XOM-stock symbol), I owne some stock in ExxonMobil and they send out a magazine called "The Lamp" a couple times a year and it is choke-filled with alternate energy research projects they are doing globally.

Dont believe all the "oil companies are evil" BS. Only the etreme, naive environmentalists, who are ignorant of the world and businesses for that matter, adhere to that phrase. Fact is oil companies are researching these other things, the media wants and the government make it sound otherwise, but they are doing these things.

I know what the response to that will be and it is laughable,"The oil companies are only doing this b/c they have money to waste and are trying to satisfy government demands and public scrutiny". Sorry but that response it as intellectually ignorant as the day is long. Companies dont just throw billions into research for no gain, that would be the utmost of stupidity. They are researching these things b/c they think that eventually they could pay off down the road, which would give them more of a market share in another energy source.

This asinine idea that we have to get off of oil, is so ignorant you cant even really discuss it intelligently. There is no oil free country out there b/c the entire planet runs on it. Oil is not bad. If we want to see bad, go ahead and listen to the crazy freaks who are screaming about getting off of oil, then watch as the world falls apart financially, industrially, and economically. The world as we know it would be turned uspide down, and it would cause more death then any war to date b/c it would cause countries to desperately seek new energy sources, which would ultimately be decided on who controls it after war.

rather none

Quite a few

Of course it is, first of all because thats what the PR guys are demanding as crucial from a company that earns the most money with a dirty black liquid, and because such a huge company can't be caught off guard when the big money in energy business starts to be made in another area than oil dependent branches. The latter point is definitely essential but it fits into the larger concept, or why do you think has BP redesigned its logo into an entirely abstract green-yellow flower like form?

As you say, oil companies are not evil, they just try to make the maximal profit. But if they could do so by destroying the environment they would do so as readily as the other way round.

Oil is not bad as such, but its not infinitely available on one side and on the other has potential environmental impact that must not be ignored.

As you say yourself you can't change the basis of economy from oil to something else over night. That leads to chaos and worse. Exactly thats the reason why we have to start it now, while there is still enough time hopefully.

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"Every country gets the cuisine it deserves"

I'm aware we fund Nuclear Fusion research (barely), but what I mean is we have no project for developing an experimental reactor.

Theres no good reason for this. We could easily fund the construction of a brand new reactor with the money we spend in Iraq in one day. We should be pouring money into this even if there is little hope of advancement. Not only does the research directly benefit science it has all sorts of practical applications other than Fusion reactions.

Were talking about heat absorption technology, there are practical uses for this in any form of energy production.

We built particle accelerators when we had far less money, and we knew they didn't have a practical use. It was just for science.

Why can't we do this?

Oh yeah, and we can get off oil. Very easily. Germany is ahead of schedule on making their country 20% solar and believes they can make it 30% solar in the same amount of time.

France is nearly 90% nuclear.

Theres no reason we can't get off oil, in fact it is an imperative. Oil has nearly quadrupled in cost in a matter of 10 years. Solar, wind, and nuclear are only going down in cost. It's only a matter of time.