Japan's JT-60 Tokamak Sets New Plasma Record 209
Dipster writes "The Japan Atomic Energy Agency has announced that its JT-60 Tokamak has almost doubled the previous record for sustained plasma production, which is now sits at 28.6 seconds. It is believed that once 400 seconds can be achieved, a sustained nuclear fusion reaction will be possible. While 28.6 seconds is a long way from 400, it raises hopes for what will be possible from the ITER reactor, expected to be finished in 2016."
Almost there... still (Score:5, Funny)
Let's see, 400 seconds - 28.6 seconds .... works out to about 50 years. Still.
Seconds (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Almost there... still (Score:3, Funny)
Re:How long (Score:3, Funny)
It's about fifteen years away.
Five years ago, it was about ten years away. That's progress for you.
Re:Almost there... still (Score:3, Funny)
I was supposed to have a time-traveling DeLorean by now.
Did anybody else read "400 seconds" as "88 MPH?"
Only 10 years till FUSION! (Score:4, Funny)
Look at that, it'll be completed in exactly 10 years. Finally, this time 10 years means 10 years.
Subject? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:How long (Score:3, Funny)
If the fusion reaction containment fails, the reaction quickly stops, without serious damage to the reactor and without any abnormal leakage of radioactive material. A fusion reactor can't "melt down".
Unfortunately, like most reactors, it will collapse into a pile of rubble after exactly 50 years. Which is why I prefer to use hydroelectric power...
Oh, wait, we were talking about Sim City, right?
-:sigma.SB
Re:greens (Score:3, Funny)
If you want nuclear to succeed, you need to find a greater evil, for example:
"
Scientists have released details of a discovery last month that when a tiny adorable kitten is poked with something pointy and sharp, an incredible amount of energy is released, many many orders of magnitude more energy than the kitten would consume in food during its entire life.
There is much speculation about where the energy comes from, as it clearly violates almost all known 'laws of physics'. It has been determined so far that the more cute and adorable the kitten, the higher the energy output.
But, with the energy crisis worsening, a proof of concept fully-automated-kitten-poking power plant has been set up with the ability to hold 30 cute and adorable baby cats. Even with an initial supply of 10 kittens, being poked 3 times per hour, the energy output is enough to supply a major capital city during peak hours.
Plans are being drawn up to build a plant large enough to supply the whole of Australia.
"
Suddenly nuclear doesn't seem like such a bad option
An Easier Way (Score:2, Funny)
We could have nuclear fusion power now, we could have had it decades ago, were it not for political concerns. Consider this:
Such a setup should generate more fusion power than we'll ever need.
But of course you'd have to manufacture fusion bombs at a rate of one every five seconds. If a country were to develop that kind of manufacturing capability, it would be very easy to divert some of those bombs for weapons use.
The REAL question is (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Competing Technology of Cold Fusion (Score:3, Funny)
Re:fusion (Score:1, Funny)
What all the helium produced from nuclear fusion, alarmists will be warning about the Mickey Mouse Effect, where everyone will start sounding like Mickey Mouse do to the increased helium in the atmosphere.
A job for the Iranians? (Score:2, Funny)