World's largest laser -carbon free electricity

[Peppa Pig]

This seems v interesting and who knows something that might be v exciting but who knows, I wonder what the downside is if any ??

http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/indepth/42423

[MKG]

Oh, nuclear fusion - if only. I am ever-optimistic about this, and the laser experiment has got closer than anything else so far (in fact it has created and sustained a plasma, but not for very long). I sincerely hope they make the breakthrough of sustainability. But I hoped that with other fusion research projects 30 years ago and more - I'm used to being disappointed. However, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed yet again.

There isn't a down side. Fusion is the process by which the sun works - dangerous if you get too close but otherwise clean as a whistle.

Do remember, though, that creating a sustainable plasma under laboratory conditions is a far cry from industrial-scale development. Even if it happened tomorrow, fusion power stations would still be 30 or 40 years away - we still have to do something in the meantime to stop carbon profligacy.

Mike

[KathyLauren]

Yes, fusion power has been twenty years in the future for the last forty years. It is still twenty years in the future now, and is likely to remain twenty years in the future for the foreseeable future.

[Peppa Pig]

"to replace it with the more political question of who is likely to deliver the first working power plant. "
In a way thats almost a profound question really and it will be interesting to see the outcome one day, hopefully in our lifetime.
The JET website (thats not one of Maccas) is good if anyone else on the forum is interested.Theres so much to know!
Jet! Ooo o oooo