China Claims Successful Fusion Power Test

SeaDour writes, "China claims to have carried out a successful test of its experimental thermonuclear fusion reactor. But what exactly made this test 'successful' is not clear. From the article: 'Xinhua cited the scientists as saying that deuterium and tritium atoms had been fused together at a temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius for nearly three seconds. The report did not specify whether the device... had succeeded at producing more energy than it consumed, the main obstacle to making fusion commercially viable.'" China is a participant in the 10-nation ITER project to build a fusion reactor in the south of France by 2015. The article quotes the research head of ITER as saying, "It was important for China to show that it is part of the club. Here are English language versions of the Chinese news release: announcement, background.

China's definition of success

[davidwr]

"We're pleased to announce we are still here to report the results."

Oh...

[ackthpt]

100 million degrees Celsius for nearly three seconds.

I think someone needs a CoolerMaster for that one!

bad news, the coolermaster consumed all the net energy

what they are not telling us

[roman_mir]

Scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced they had successfully tried a domestically developed fusion device in the eastern Chinese city of Hefei, Xinhua news agency said.

The scientists called the device "the first of its kind in operation in the world", but the report did not specify what tests it had passed. ...
Xinhua cited the scientists as saying that deuterium and tritium atoms had been fused together at a temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius for nearly three seconds. - what they are not telling us is that their sofistimacated gizmotron is based on a Yin Yang Dragon technology, which employs 500,000,000 manual workers, each one only having to heat up one atom by 1/5th of a degree by applying the power of the Chi.

Since the labor for all the labor only cost about $5 total, the reactor was able to produce an energy surplus, a feat previously considered to be improbable.

America Syndrome

[EmbeddedJanitor]

What goes around, comes around

Re:China's definition of success

[LoudMusic]

"We're pleased to announce we are still here to report the results."

Hey, nothing wrong with that. I've said it plenty of times myself.

(:

Re:China's definition of success

[steveo777]

It reminds me of the typical physics student's t-shirts and lab coats. On the back is something printed to the effect of, "[some school] Physics. If you see us running, try to keep up."

Re:Net gain not the obstacle!

[Howserx]

Journalists should all be required to read the relevant wikipedia articles before publishing something about science Or they should at least edit the relevant wiki articles to make sure it matches their article.

Re:Why waste time doing research...

[Cryssen]

Just don't make her hyperventilate

In Communist China..

[ch-chuck]

... do they call it The US Syndrome [wikipedia.org]

Re:China's definition of success

[CthulhuDreamer]

With the bomb squad, you can usually stop running after the first couple of blocks. If it involves the physics department, keep going.

Re:Oh...

[digismack]

100 million degrees Celsuis for nearly three seconds.
Does this not technically contribute to global warming? ;)

Re:Everyone will be doing it soon...

[swarsron]

somehow i can't help but be sceptical of a scientist named Farnsworth

Re:This answers that old question

[RsG]

This finally answers that old question, "What happens when everyone in China jumps onto the same pair of hydrogen atoms simultaneously?"

They collapse into a quantum singularity, obviously. All that mass in such a small place?

A better question would be how they managed to cram everyone in China into the same place at the same time. Methinks someone used a "noclip" cheat :-P

Re:China's definition of success

[otis wildflower]

"Do not look into laser with remaining eye".

You must work for the Government.

[Kadin2048]

Only the NSA would think that a spy satellite is needed in order to read a press release.

Re:Oh...

[jacksonj04]

That's easy! [weebls-stuff.com]

Re:China's definition of success

[Tim C]

What do you think is powering the lasers? Fairy dust?!

Re:Containment?

[l0b0]

If I ever invent a time machine, the first mission would be to make sure the process of fusion was renamed to hot non-bomby difficult controllable process, or HNBDCP, to make sure these concepts were never, ever, confused again!

Re:Containment?

[l0b0]

You can extract and use it in places where the sun doesn't shine.

You, Sir, have just invented another way of telling people where to "stick it". I salute thee.

Re:China's definition of success

[secolactico]

"Free Lasik Surgery" -- in a label next to a FC port.

Re:Heat Pollution

[jafiwam]

Some big fins?

Add some "Type R" crop shapes... a few craters for sub woofers and a couple copies of Vegas for lighting and you'd have...

RICER EARTH.