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Environment & Energy

OKIsItJustMe

(21,875 posts)

15. I don't think so

Reply to hatrack (Reply #14)

Sat Oct 18, 2014, 02:06 AM

Oct 2014

Fusion would be safer than Fission.

Fission, happens spontaneously. In a fission based power plant, operators bring a bunch of radioactive material together, a chain reaction occurs, and then try to control it. If they lose control of it, it can melt down.

Fission produces long-lasting radioactive waste.

Fusion, happens naturally in the center of stars, but, elsewhere it is kind of difficult to keep going. (We've been working on it for decades.) If we lose control of it, it stops.

Fusion will produce smaller amounts, of shorter lived waste.

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Highlight:

Scientists skeptical of Lockheed Martin's truck-sized FUSION reactor breakthrough boast [View all] nitpicker Oct 2014 OP

Wait. We have FUSION? aquart Oct 2014 #1

We don't have useful fusion. drm604 Oct 2014 #2

If they had proof that they had usuable fusion, they would be funding it themselves. Yo_Mama Oct 2014 #16

About the time of the Hydrogen bomb hootinholler Oct 2014 #3

Perhaps they are expecting development of a great national/international effort to pursue this Hortensis Oct 2014 #4

It isn't news until you've built a prototype and demonstrated net energy output Yo_Mama Oct 2014 #17

Fusion Unlimited GliderGuider Oct 2014 #5

^ this ^ defacto7 Oct 2014 #6

Agree. Nihil Oct 2014 #7

Could be caraher Oct 2014 #8

I agree. hunter Oct 2014 #9

We're already well on our way to turning the entire biosphere into humans. GliderGuider Oct 2014 #10

The issue is sustainable development. People aren't really willing to continue squatting Hortensis Oct 2014 #11

You're not an ecologist or systems scientist, I take it? nt GliderGuider Oct 2014 #13

Skunk Works Reveals Compact Fusion Reactor Details OKIsItJustMe Oct 2014 #12

"Conceptually" - key word here, I think hatrack Oct 2014 #14

I don't think so OKIsItJustMe Oct 2014 #15

Does Lockheed Martin Really Have a Breakthrough Fusion Machine? OKIsItJustMe Oct 2014 #18

based on principles of so-called �magnetic mirror confinement.� FogerRox Oct 2014 #19

No� It�s not a whiffleball OKIsItJustMe Oct 2014 #20