By now most of you have probably already heard about
or read the announcement that a breakthrough has been achieved in nuclear fusion research, that a "net energy gain" occurred in an experiment, and this has been called a "monumental milestone."
Some news on this achievement from the article linked below:
" ... this is one of the most impressive scientific feats of the 21st century."
"This milestone moves us one significant step closer to the possibility of zero carbon abundance fusion energy powering our society."
" ... a clean source of power that would discontinue reliance on fossil fuels."
" ... if the process can be mastered. That's the goal of a multinational, multibillion-dollar project called the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, or ITER, which is under construction in southern France."And if it's as non-polluting as they claim, icing on the cake.
But of course any excitement that this is generating now needs to be tempered with caution, as it will be some time before any of this will be practical, probably years if not decades. And that's assuming some major hitch in development doesn't pop up along the way.
And there will be other issues, if fusion turns out to be practical. Multiple nations claiming ownership of the process? Resistance from the fossil fuel industry? The question of which nations get the new technology if politics leads to restrictions? Security of new fusion plants, and protection from anti-fusion terrorists?
But if it really does look like a go, maybe the government, or governments, if something like a multinational consortium is set up, should seriously consider a Manhattan Project approach, working together as rapidly as possible, until it's fusion plants that are supplying our electricity.
And you know what? Maybe this topic isn't so OT after all, if someday RALPs being done in operating theaters, or RT being administered by mechanical arms, are being powered by electricity coming from the fusion plant down the road.
It's still very early in the process, but wouldn't it be great if this really is going to be the Holy Grail of power supply, finally achieved?
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nuclear-fusion-energy-breakthrough-announcement/