An article in the September issue of Physics Today highlights the continuing erosion of the US fusion program.  (”The US narrows fusion research focus, joins German Stellarator.)

Thanks Mike for sending me the link to this Steven Cowley TED talk on fusion.

The American Security Project released a new white paper titled “Fusion Energy: An Opportunity for American Leadership and Security” (pdf file) explaining the potential significant gains of American investment in fusion energy.  It recommends a total government investment of $35 billion over a period of 15 years.

Just watched “Top 5 Things I love about the WEBB telescope.” 

I think I’m in love.

For those of us struggling to build the bridge to fusion, Neil deGrasse Tyson has some pointers. 

In his appearance on the Daily Show on Tuesday, he said that explorers on the frontier of science sometimes need to make stuff up to advance research. 

He wasn’t advocating faking science.  And after watching the special, it’s also clear he wasn’t advocating painting a rosy picture.  The “made up stuff” on the show includes a relentless visualization of all the things that can go wrong in space.  How can we apply this to the fusion endeavor?

Why is fusion underfunded? 

Does it have something to do with a study that shows people contribute less to something when the analytical part of their mind is activated?

If the study is right, then public support for fusion is pretty much doomed at the gate.

The National Academies of Science, National Research Council, will commence its study “Prospects for Inertial Confinement Fusion Energy Systems” on December 16 with a meeting to be held at the Keck Center, 500 5th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. 

Fusion faces serious technical challenges. Splitting the atom is a walk in the park compared to fusing atoms. If DT fusion is difficult, aneutronic fusion faces even more daunting challenges.

As part of our Society’s role in educating the public about focus fusion, we are trying to clear up misinformation that is circulating on the Web. Two types of issues have emerged: questions about the safety of focus fusion and about its scientific feasibility.

The Energy Crisis*
*and the fusion footnote

According to many sources, the world today is caught in an escalating energy crisis. The crisis has profound economic, political and environmental impacts, which are steadily getting worse. But there is something missing from the old “Energy Crisis” equation, and that is Focus Fusion.

What does the President’s new energy initiative mean for focus fusion?

Notes on the Symposium from Eric Lerner:

• Sentiment at the Symposium
• Our Presentation
• TriAlpha Energy at the Symposium