In nuclear fusion milestone, Japan unveils the world's largest reactor

[emorphy]

Forward-looking: Fusion differs from fission, which is used in nuclear power plants, and it is based on the same principle that powers the Sun and stars as the hydrogen nuclei fuses into helium, releasing light and heat. Also, unlike nuclear power, fusion is intrinsically safe in that the reaction stops when the fuel supply or power source is shut down. Nor does it generate high-level long-lived radioactive waste.

The planet's journey to clean energy use has taken another leap forward in Naka, Japan, where the world's biggest and most advanced experimental nuclear fusion reactor has been inaugurated. Housed at the National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, the system, known as JT-60SA, is a six-story-high donut-shaped machine called a tokamak that contains magnetic field coils that confine plasma particles to allow the plasma to achieve the conditions necessary for fusion.

It is a significant development for fusion science – a technology that scientists and engineers have been experimenting with since the 1950s and that currently represents great hopes as a carbon-free source of energy.

"When it is realized, fusion would benefit every country and work alongside nuclear energy and other forms of sustainable energy, supporting climate change mitigation and contributing to the energy mix," said Matteo Barbarino, an IAEA Nuclear Plasma Fusion Specialist in a report published earlier this year by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

There are currently more than 50 tokamaks in the world, according to IAEA figures, and the U.S. Energy Department cites fusion energy scientists who believe that they are the leading plasma confinement concept for future fusion power plants.

The JT-60SA is a joint project between the European Union and Japan and is part of ITER, which stands for International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, an ambitious energy project where 35 nations are collaborating to build the world's largest tokamak.

The JT-60SA is meant to be a test bed for the ITER project and will use hydrogen and its isotope deuterium to conduct experiments on the stability of the plasma and its effect on energy production. The device, said Sam Davis, the deputy project leader for the JT-60SA, will "bring us closer to fusion energy".

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/101041-nuclear-fusion-milestone-japan-unveils-world-largest-reactor.html

 

[erickmendes]

Big bada boom

 

[Bobbygdue]

I would have thought an update on the research and how close they are to a sustainable and power positive reaction would have been included in the story.

 

[Uncle Al]

Despite the MANY claims during the past decade, any form of practical use of a Fusion Reactor is still decades away, perhaps too long to help counteract the effects of global warming. While there are still many ouf there that denigh the existance of global warming, they can offer NO evidence of their opinions while the science's offer an incredible amount of evidence supporting the global warming claims.

The recent claims that a majority of countries have signed on to the "no coal burning" initative, none have set a firm deadline, further extending the doomsday senerio of heating the earth beyond human existance.

 

[return]

Despite the MANY claims during the past decade, any form of practical use of a Fusion Reactor is still decades away, perhaps too long to help counteract the effects of global warming. While there are still many ouf there that denigh the existance of global warming, they can offer NO evidence of their opinions while the science's offer an incredible amount of evidence supporting the global warming claims.

The recent claims that a majority of countries have signed on to the "no coal burning" initative, none have set a firm deadline, further extending the doomsday senerio of heating the earth beyond human existance.

What global warming?! Electrical bills will kill us all!

 

[gamerk2]

I would have thought an update on the research and how close they are to a sustainable and power positive reaction would have been included in the story.

I think they made a net gain in the actual generation last year, before considering the initial input power. But being power positive on the reaction itself is now a solved issue. The problem now is sustainability.

 

[Plutoisaplanet]

Despite the MANY claims during the past decade, any form of practical use of a Fusion Reactor is still decades away, perhaps too long to help counteract the effects of global warming. While there are still many ouf there that denigh the existance of global warming, they can offer NO evidence of their opinions while the science's offer an incredible amount of evidence supporting the global warming claims.

The recent claims that a majority of countries have signed on to the "no coal burning" initative, none have set a firm deadline, further extending the doomsday senerio of heating the earth beyond human existance.

I have a question for you--what about those who disagree with your specifics of the doomsday scenario (apparently including most countries from your POV) but do want to fight "global warming" and simply do not acknowledge such a date? Can you offer this "incredible amount of evidence" to show what year the apocalypse is? Has that been changing or does science have a firm deadline on it?

This includes Elon Musk. He doesn't believe there will ever be a doomsday scenario or deadline as clean energy has been advancing incredibly rapidly. Do you believe he is "further extending the doomsday senerio of heating the earth beyond human existance"?

 

[trparky]

While there are still many out there that deny the existence of global warming, they can offer NO evidence of their opinions while the science's offer an incredible amount of evidence supporting the global warming claims.

The recent claims that a majority of countries have signed on to the "no coal burning" initiative, none have set a firm deadline, further extending the doomsday scenario of heating the earth beyond human existence.

Let's take the COP28 convention. If global warming, I mean climate change was such a big deal, why the heck would they have it hosted in the UAE that stands to be harmed the most by climate change policies that are to be enacted from this point on? And not only that but every single bureaucrat that went to the convention went there in private jets that you guessed it, burns crap loads of jet fuel and puts out crap loads of CO2. If these people were so effing worried about climate change, they could've all flown business class like the rest of us plebs. And then there's the mile long motorcades that many of these bureaucrats would be part of and I guarantee you that none of them were EVs.

Oh, I don't know... they could've had some kind of Zoom meeting. Oh yes, that would've been so much more environmentally friendly.

So, until I see the bureaucrats doing the same crap that they're asking us plebs to do, I call bullsh*t. The whole COP28 was bullsh*t.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Despite the MANY claims during the past decade, any form of practical use of a Fusion Reactor is still decades away, perhaps too long to help counteract the effects of global warming. While there are still many ouf there that denigh the existance of global warming, they can offer NO evidence of their opinions while the science's offer an incredible amount of evidence supporting the global warming claims.

The recent claims that a majority of countries have signed on to the "no coal burning" initative, none have set a firm deadline, further extending the doomsday senerio of heating the earth beyond human existance.

The only way that such clean tech would be of no use is if doomsday is right around the corner. And if it is....then why worry about it? By your (and most environmentalist death cults) predictions, the world actually ended 30 years ago and we're just making the actual end doom date much worse. The only answers you can provide are totally untenable without massive population decline or utter annihilation of living standards. Of course, not for our chosen leaders who will continue to live in the lap of luxury.

Perhaps there is a reason so many disagree with the doomsday predictions? Might have something to do with Florida still being above water. Guarantee you 50 years from now we'll be having this exact same discussion.

I have a question for you--what about those who disagree with your specifics of the doomsday scenario (apparently including most countries from your POV) but do want to fight "global warming" and simply do not acknowledge such a date? Can you offer this "incredible amount of evidence" to show what year the apocalypse is? Has that been changing or does science have a firm deadline on it?

This includes Elon Musk. He doesn't believe there will ever be a doomsday scenario or deadline as clean energy has been advancing incredibly rapidly. Do you believe he is "further extending the doomsday senerio of heating the earth beyond human existance"?

This is heresy, you must REPENT for disagreeing with our lord and savior, THE SCIENCE! Questioning scripture is HERETICAL.

Let's take the COP28 convention. If global warming, I mean climate change was such a big deal, why the heck would they have it hosted in the UAE that stands to be harmed the most by climate change policies that are to be enacted from this point on? And not only that but every single bureaucrat that went to the convention went there in private jets that you guessed it, burns crap loads of jet fuel and puts out crap loads of CO2. If these people were so effing worried about climate change, they could've all flown business class like the rest of us plebs. And then there's the mile long motorcades that many of these bureaucrats would be part of and I guarantee you that none of them were EVs.

Oh, I don't know... they could've had some kind of Zoom meeting. Oh yes, that would've been so much more environmentally friendly.

So, until I see the bureaucrats doing the same crap that they're asking us plebs to do, I call bullsh*t. The whole COP28 was bullsh*t.

I would love to see our politicians and multimillionaires living in tiny apartments, eating soy burgers and bug bread, given $500 a month for rentals of everything they need day to day which would never be enough to cover everything, being forced to take public transportation through poor run down areas, with only censored modern media to consume, just to see how they would cope. force them to do it for a month, and livestream it!

 

[human7]

Despite the MANY claims during the past decade, any form of practical use of a Fusion Reactor is still decades away, perhaps too long to help counteract the effects of global warming. While there are still many ouf there that denigh the existance of global warming, they can offer NO evidence of their opinions while the science's offer an incredible amount of evidence supporting the global warming claims.

The recent claims that a majority of countries have signed on to the "no coal burning" initative, none have set a firm deadline, further extending the doomsday senerio of heating the earth beyond human existance.

Nuclear fusion is only 20 years away. The joke is that it's been 20 years away for the past 70 years.

 

[trparky]

The only answers you can provide are totally untenable without massive population decline or utter annihilation of living standards. Of course, not for our chosen leaders who will continue to live in the lap of luxury.

Yep, can't expect our political betters to come down to our level and live the lives of us plebs. Oh no, we can't have that. They're better than us, don't you know that? /sarcasm

I'm absolutely sick and tired of the double standards that are in play here. Either everyone (including all the rich f*cks) has to abide by the same standards where we all have to cut back on our greenhouse gas emissions, or... oh yeah, climate change is one big gigantic joke that they're foisting on all of us while they're all laughing their butts off.

I would love to see our politicians and multimillionaires living in tiny apartments, eating soy burgers and bug bread, given $500 a month for rentals of everything they need day to day which would never be enough to cover everything, being forced to take public transportation through poor run down areas, with only censored modern media to consume, just to see how they would cope. force them to do it for a month, and livestream it!

They would never abide by that, that's how you know all the climate change crap is just that... crap.

It's not hard to see all of the crap for what it is if you just open your eyes to all of the hypocrisy of it all.

 

[Mr Majestyk]

I call BS. Tokamaks will never be commercially viable even if they actually achieve net energy return. Failed technology that has wasted far too many resources. Either go back to stellarators or fund Laser fusion better or move on.

 

[RedGuard]

I'm not sure I'm following. The Sun manages to convert Hydrogen into Helium because of the huge gravitational force pushing the Hydrogen together. On Earth the only way to fuse two atoms of Hydrogen is by applying some force on them and that requires power which has a cost.

 

[Robbie K]

I wonder when all this will blow over? Perhaps in 100 years people will look back and say man we were so dumb. Like the whole global cooling thing in the 70s. Cooling, warming, changing.....yes the climate changes. Didn't have to waste billions to work that out. Isn't it time to stop yet? Cause I can't afford the stupidity!

 

[Milest]

I'm not sure I'm following. The Sun manages to convert Hydrogen into Helium because of the huge gravitational force pushing the Hydrogen together. On Earth the only way to fuse two atoms of Hydrogen is by applying some force on them and that requires power which has a cost.

The heat extracted from the reaction will run steam turbines. The hope is it will be an efficient enough process that there's sufficient power for the force application you mentioned, plus enough left for our utility.

 

[trparky]

The hope is it will be an efficient enough process that there's sufficient power for the force application you mentioned, plus enough left for our utility.

And there’s the rub, which I doubt will ever be overcome. Fusion, IMO, is a fool’s errand. We have perfectly good nuclear tech that, although it creates radiation and radioactive waste, it’s still a hell of a lot cleaner than fossil fuels.

 

[bondflavor]

I'm not sure I'm following. The Sun manages to convert Hydrogen into Helium because of the huge gravitational force pushing the Hydrogen together. On Earth the only way to fuse two atoms of Hydrogen is by applying some force on them and that requires power which has a cost.

It's simple, you just create a mini-sun, preferably right in the heart of New York City, the ideal location for experiments such as this. Once it's started, the mini-sun will become self-sustaining. Safe, renewable energy, and cheap electricity for everyone. The power of the sun in the palm of your hand. You may need a set of four long mechanical arms attached to your spine in order to contain breaches of the energy, though.

 

[kiwigraeme]

I wonder when all this will blow over? Perhaps in 100 years people will look back and say man we were so dumb. Like the whole global cooling thing in the 70s. Cooling, warming, changing.....yes the climate changes. Didn't have to waste billions to work that out. Isn't it time to stop yet? Cause I can't afford the stupidity!

I curious what science do say is wrong - that CO2 is a not a greenhouse gas ? ( shown 200 years ago - and never disproved ever )
That CO2 did not start to rise at the start of the industrial age

That climate change is right outside your window - the warmest years in human kinds existence are being broken now every couple of years
The huge loss of Artic ice cap - temps sometimes 20 degrees warmer than normal
That all the climate scientist from every country are hopelessly wrong

What is it - a gut feeling

You know big polluters who would put out the dis- information - themselves know climate change is 100% real.

That climate change is a big cost to the the top 0.1 % percent and the lifestyle they want to lead

Please tell me what you base this on ?

 

[trparky]

That's fine and all, but I don't take kindly to our leaders living the way they do while asking us plebs to cut back on our way of life. No sir, you need to set an example for us so unless you plan to get off your high horse and do the same stuff you're asking us to do, here's a middle finger.

 

[WhoCaresAnymore]

Despite the MANY claims during the past decade, any form of practical use of a Fusion Reactor is still decades away, perhaps too long to help counteract the effects of global warming. While there are still many ouf there that denigh the existance of global warming, they can offer NO evidence of their opinions while the science's offer an incredible amount of evidence supporting the global warming claims.

The recent claims that a majority of countries have signed on to the "no coal burning" initative, none have set a firm deadline, further extending the doomsday senerio of heating the earth beyond human existance.

Preach on, Mate. It's all about the $$. Earth is gonna do what it's gonna do, regardless of mans existence. Dinosaurs sure had it rough. So did the generation that lived during the dust bowl era. Lord, if we had another "dust bowl", imagine the environmentalists reaction now.

All it takes is a few big solar flares, a sun spot, a meteor of the right size, and we are toast. All living things on this planet are living on bought time. Space/Nature will find a way to sweep us under the rug. Either tomorrow or millions of years from now. Or, anything in-between.

We should take care of our planet, but do it with common sense. Not push everyone into poverty and unemployment.

 

[Dimitrios]

What global warming?! Electrical bills will kill us all!

Remember when Hawaii had that wildfire and the first thing that came out of the governor first sentence was " due to global warming" but a month later it was proven false. Well PepperidgeFarms remembers.

 

[Mark Fuller]

In spite of the practicality of nuclear fusion being decades away, I think that the tools to handle global warming and the energy crisis is already hear. All it takes is a little common sense like restrictions on crop production that is unnecessary to feed us (we throw surplus grain into the sea). Although this flies in the face of those who make money on crop production, and of course, money is all that matters. There are also many other expenditures of Earth's resources just to make money for those who use them. I could not begin to list them all in this limited space nor do I have time. Could you imagine how much of the problem could be solved just by cutting out the unnecessary use of resources just to make money, or maybe it is the solution to the problem.

 

[WhoCaresAnymore]

In spite of the practicality of nuclear fusion being decades away, I think that the tools to handle global warming and the energy crisis is already hear. All it takes is a little common sense like restrictions on crop production that is unnecessary to feed us (we throw surplus grain into the sea). Although this flies in the face of those who make money on crop production, and of course, money is all that matters. There are also many other expenditures of Earth's resources just to make money for those who use them. I could not begin to list them all in this limited space nor do I have time. Could you imagine how much of the problem could be solved just by cutting out the unnecessary use of resources just to make money, or maybe it is the solution to the problem.

Who knows. Just follow the money. Changes like that will never happen. *shrug*

 

[erickmendes]

We may not get a date specific climate doomsday, but we might come to changes that will make millions of people becoming climate exiled, the poorer will suffer even more, food production may be affected, we could be in route to a world with worse life conditions and everybody will have to adapt, and when you are poorer that brings more suffering.

 

[WhoCaresAnymore]

but we might come to changes

You should rephrase that. We WILL come to changes. You can't stop cycles from happening. Thankfully it won't be in my lifetime. Unless, we have a real World War. That would be catastrophic to every part of this earth.