The scientists used lasers to fuse two light atoms into a single one, releasing 3.15MJ (megajoules) of energy from 2.05MJ of input – roughly enough to boil a kettle.

Why do we even study this? Renewables are the only way. This is a waste of money which is a finite resource.

  • jeff@lemmy.ca
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    7 months ago

    So 1. This is newable. Green, almost waste free, and unlimited.

    If we can refine fusion, we will stop global warming and energy insecurity, virtually overnight.

    It’s not a waste to invest in clean tech R&D. At one point, people said the same thing about solar, and look where we are now

      • neuropean@kbin.social
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        7 months ago

        Fusion is constant, wouldn’t require large amounts of batteries to store energy. There are advantages to each.

        • IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          It’s not though, not withstanding stars. We’ve managed 17 minutes so far. We’re so far away from turning this into a useable power source that it’s absurd.

          • YungOnions@sh.itjust.works
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            7 months ago

            So? The trick is to keep developing the technology, not give up because it doesn’t immediately deliver unlimited energy.

            • IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.world
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              7 months ago

              We’ve been working on fusion in one form or another for nearly 100 years. We’re still nowhere near turning it into a useable energy source. I don’t really care if research continues or not, I’m sure the research can be useful in other areas but fusion is not going to save us.

      • CTDummy@lemm.ee
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        7 months ago

        In the way the other poster compared them? Yes, in so far as people who complain “the new, developing technology isn’t immediately as optimised and refined as I want it to be” for both.

        • IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          Do you have a basic understanding of the challenges of getting electricity from a fusion reaction vs the challenges of manufacturing PV panels?

          • CTDummy@lemm.ee
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            7 months ago

            Seeing as you deliberately seem to be missing the point in order to try and feel smarter I’m going to leave you to it. Have a good one.