Do you think we will achieve fusion this century? What's your guess as to how long?

2015-10-12T13:20:05-04:00

My bet is that we'll have a working reactor within 10 years, and an economically viable one within 20. Why? Well, we already know fusion is possible -- just look up in the sky at noon, there's one of the Galaxy's smallest fusion reactors firing cheerfully away -- and billions upon billions are being poured into it by some of the richest people and corporations on the planet.

The prize? Clean, sustainable, limitless energy with none of the nasty byproducts of the fission reactors currently in use. The implications of terrestrial use alone are staggering...not to mention what possibilities it creates for exploring our solar system, and exploiting the resources.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/06/tech/pioneers-nuclear-fusion/index.html

Amazing promises of nuclear fusion: How close are we? - CNN.com

For 60 years the world's been waiting for cheap, clean, safe, sustainable power from nuclear fusion. Are we there yet?

Response by CPO Joseph Grant made Oct 12 at 2015 1:21 PM

2015-10-12T13:21:35-04:00

One day we will. I'd guess 50 years.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2015 1:23 PM

2015-10-12T13:23:37-04:00

I think eventually they will crack that nut, but it won't be easy or cheap

Response by PV2 Scott Goodpasture made Oct 12 at 2015 1:31 PM

2015-10-12T13:31:53-04:00

It won't be us. It seems Obama would rather regress to the 8th Century and import 10's of thousands of shariah law wackos than propell our civilization into scientific leadership and discovery

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Oct 12 at 2015 1:36 PM

2015-10-12T13:36:21-04:00

Thank you for posting an interesting question SN Greg Wright. I was interested in the wording of the article in terms of the way they used heating and pressure to get the deuterium and tritium gas to 1,000.000 degrees celsius in a cost efficient manner.
I would expect that a small scale fusion-reactor prototype will be developed by 2035 somewhere in Europe or possibly Japan. I doubt the USA would allow it because of NIMBY [not in my backyard] mentality which seems to be prevalent - after all look at how much trouble the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository has stirred up. :-)
"Experts say science has made a lot of progress recently and for some, confidence is high.
"For $20 billion in cash, I could build you a working reactor," Professor Steven Cowley, CEO of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, told Popular Mechanics. "It would be big, and maybe not very reliable, but 25 years ago we didn't even know if we'd be able to make fusion work. Now, the only question is whether we'll be able to make it affordable."
Nonetheless, it's unlikely the big push for fusion will disappear altogether, as long as it promises to solve the world's energy needs for the next millennium.
"Sure. It would solve that. There's no question," Coblentz said. "We just have to demonstrate it, and then replicate it on a scale that will actually be practical."

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2015 2:49 PM

2015-10-12T14:49:09-04:00

well .... let hope so. that would destroy a lot of wealth. Especially the renewable energy business, that we dump billion and billions on. lol

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Oct 12 at 2015 7:19 PM

2015-10-12T19:19:33-04:00

Should be interesting to watch how it pans out.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 14 at 2015 8:47 AM

2015-10-14T08:47:47-04:00

Maybe I'm confused but I thought we already had nuclear power? I.e., civilian nuclear power plants and not to mention the nuclear reactors onboard US Navy Aircraft Carriers and Submarines?

Response by SPC David S. made Oct 14 at 2015 12:31 PM

2015-10-14T12:31:26-04:00

The only question is whether it will be affordable - We can turn lead into Gold but economically its a loss. I do find it interesting how nature has provided some very efficient blue prints for many things -

http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/russian-scientists-turn-lead-into-gold/

Russian Physicists Turn Lead Into Gold

Moscow | A research team at the Federal State Enterprise Russian Research Center headed by professor Nicolai E. Brevechin has conclusively succeeded in producing very small amounts of gold from bismuth and lead, a goal previously sought out by alchemists for centuries.The result that was at firs

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 1:55 PM

2015-10-15T13:55:38-04:00

2025 ITER and the other initiatives will bring us a commercial design and commercially viable product.