Manufacturing Star Power
Nuclear fusion is the creative reaction occuring in the heart of our sun. Without it, life on this planet could not exist. In the 1930s the meddling of scientists and politicians harnessed this awsome power into nuclear warheads for destructive purposes. However, for the last 100 years the quest to control this same force for generative functions has also been a primary focus of physicists worldwide. It is theorized that nuclear fusion, properly controlled, could solve many of our world's energy problems.
Recent claims by the National Ignition Facility (NIF) of Livermore, California, are bringing the dream of this clean, reliable, and sustainable energy within reach. This Spring NIF will be channeling a laser beam through a near mile long labyrinth of mirrors, lens, and amplifiers. During its journey, the laser will split and ultimately reconverge in a tiny golden cylinder. The hope is to ignite a fusion reaction within their man-made star. The operation is 11 years in the making and carries a price tag of $1.7 billion. If successful the experiment will bring humankind one step closer to opening the first nuclear fusion power plant.
This story was suggested by Philip Heying.
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KABLOOEY!!
Come on...you know you thought about it too.... ^_~
"You must *be* the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi
KaBoOoOoM!!!
Yeah I did. Not to mention that the same lab maintains the United States' aging stockpile of nukes.
In fact, the NIF is controled by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory who back in March of 2008 got their design approved for the manufacturing of a new nuclear warhead called the "Reliable Replacement Warhead" (congress has yet to allocate money towards it though, as it is still in the cost analysis phase).
Oh, for Heaven's sake....
Great giggity....we really are some arrogant bastards, aren't we? =P
Sheesh.....
"You must *be* the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi
Stars
hmmm
Of course Solar Power is really Star Power.
... and has a far less chance of blowing up the place, plus as far as I know the Sun does not maintain a stockpile of nuclear weapons.
Oh it would be nice to see $1.7 billion go to Solar energy projects. The cost of Nevada Solar One is in the range of $266 million.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada_Solar_One
So for $1.7 billion you could create about six large solar power plants.
It has been proposed that massive expansion of solar plants such as Nevada Solar One has the potential to provide sufficient electricity to power the entire United States.
Solar One nice but why not in your backyard?