The latest developments in fusion energy - with the UKAEA

Hear about the latest research in the leading-edge field of fusion energy.
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00:00 Introduction to fusion energy
04:27 The latest research from the Joint European Torus (JET)
19:45 The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Organisation
39:48 Inertial fusion energy at the National Ignition Facility (NIF)
This talk was recorded at the Ri on 2 February 2024, in partnership with the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).
Fernanda Rimini, a trailblazer from the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), offers a glimpse into the inner workings of the Joint European Torus (JET), the world's most advanced magnetic confinement fusion experiment. Fernanda illuminates the remarkable strides made in plasma physics and fusion energy generation.
Pietro Barabschi, the Director of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Organisation, takes you on a journey through the heart of this monumental international fusion project, and considers the scientific challenges that come with replicating the fusion processes of our sun here on Earth.
Tammy Ma, a plasma physicist from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), unveils the astounding ongoing experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) which are bringing us closer to the dream of virtually limitless, clean energy.
The talk was compered by Melanie Windridge from Fusion Energy Insights.
If you liked this talk, check out our other lectures on fusion energy:
- Could nuclear fusion energy power the future? • Could nuclear fusion e...
- The need for fusion • The need for fusion - ...
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[@TheRoyalInstitution]

If you liked this talk, check out our other lectures on fusion energy: - Could nuclear fusion energy power the future? kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIrNmoGgbqpnnpo - The need for fusion kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZC7i2CkncR1m5Y

[@ShonMardani]

How does the Hydrogen in the Sun remain separated from Helium and gradual and controlled Fusion occur? Does anyone know?

[@savage22bolt32]

Where has the desk gone? The famous desk..

[@nathanroberson]

That what they said about interphenomeners, but just look at what came to be in gravitational interstellar sensory gathering.

[@toni4729]

@@savage22bolt32 That desk keeps on vanishing and returning. Don't worry, it'll be back. There must be a hole in the floor or something.

[@savage22bolt32]

@@nathanroberson you are paying attention!

[@richardmarkham8369]

I visited JET a long time ago and got to go into the reactor building and see a segment of the torus that had been removed for maintenance and upgrades. Amazing place. The machine itself is hard to describe as it looks like nothing else you've seen.

[@nexttonic6459]

Great video, thank you for the speakers.

[@iosebchikvashvili1864]

Great video But i cannot imagine how to build economical reactor on base of neutronic DT reaction. Today we only can state that if Tokamaks will be big enough, they will produce net power. No doubt. In ITER 840 m3 plasma is projected to produce 500 MW fusion powe for 3600 seconds. Then next shot. In about one year I am sure the condition of first wall and other critical components facing to plasma should be revised. If maintenance neede plasma facing components will be strongly radioactive and need remote handling. There 18 toroidal magnets weighing 310 ton each. Vacuum chamber weighs as far as i remember about 5000 ton. I quote these numbers only to show how costly maintenance will be. New creative idia is needed allowing us to go to aneutronic fusion. But ITER is projected for plasma temperature 15 keV. DHe3 reaction needs on order of magnitude higher temperature. And even bigger reactor or to invent method to run reactors at higher value of beta (ratio of plasma pressure to magnetic pressure) 20 years is unreal

[@whatfireflies]

Yet again an amazing presentation. Thank you for making these available to all of us.

[@rolf-joachimschroder917]

On inertial fusion, one thing needs to be made clear again: so far, the energy input of the entire machine is still much higher than the fusion yield, only the energy that arrives directly at the pellet to be ignited is lower than the yield! Therefore, the energy yield must be at least 15 times as high as the energy that reaches the pellet. Also, tritium must still be used in inertial fusion, which must first be bred from lithium in a nuclear reactor and is extremely expensive. Per ignition, and 1-10 per second are needed for operation, costs of 100K to 1M dollars must currently be expected. A stellarator will certainly run without tritium as fuel, possibly also without deuterium.

[@johnh6245]

It would be interesting to know what reactions will replace tritium and possible deuterium.

[@omegafile]

I already solved it.... look for remastered galaxy in a box. It's so simple and the parts already engineered.... no coils needed either... easily 1 trillion watts over unity. It's not fusion.. it's thermoacoustics and has a hole. Only 13 non moving parts... ready for a CNC machine.

[@geekswithfeet9137]

@@omegafilethat’s not a solution, that’s mental illness

[@Dolphy_Beluga]

Lithium can be used to bread tritium inside the fusion core. Deuterium on earth is abundant in oceans, enough to last hundreds of millions of not billions of years. So no need for concern

[@iancunningham7547]

Thank you - great talk.

[@dinarwali386]

Great to know the latest work that is going on at JET, ITER and NIF. The FRC approach that Helion Energy in the US is pursuing with its 7th generation Polaris reactor is also very exciting.

[@jb76489]

No it isn’t, Helion is a joke

[@indutor]

@@jb76489 ....they have results

[@dewibermingham816]

7th generation? What happened to the previous 6 generations? How much electricity did they generate? Remember to put a minus sign in front of your answer!

[@juliane__]

Helion claims they do something never done before and forget it is 65 years of research backing them. Despite this they can't deliver on anything they claimed. Best example: commercial fusion in 2019! That is 5 years ago. Please explain the horrendoues dissonance in a way to build any trust in this componay other than they want to burn money.

[@JacquesMartini]

@@juliane__ The do it the Elon way 😂

[@TheEducat0r]

Who else is feeling charged up about the latest breakthroughs in fusion energy? The UKAEA is turning science fiction into reality!

[@OzGoober]

We need a new mechanisim to convert heat to electricity. Progess towards this goal is still amazing. Forever 20 years away ... is closer.

[@evilpanky]

That would be amazing! We’re still making water hot! You should read up on “aneutronic fusion” and “direct energy conversion”; I think you’ll be pleased!

[@OzGoober]

@@evilpanky Thank you!

[@toddmarshall7573]

"We need a new mechanisim to convert heat to electricity.": Why? What part of a steam turbine and a generator do you not like? I'm assuming that you already know the Thorium MSR is the way to go for the heat.

[@wonderings8973]

@@toddmarshall7573 the race is on to see whether Thorium MSRs will be in commercial ops before nuclear fusion. I doubt that I'll be alive to see either happen.

[@toni4729]

Wow.... I'm old enough to remember back in the sixties when this was virtually a dream.

[@lenwhatever4187]

Still a dream, still _just_ 20 years away.

[@evilpanky]

@@lenwhatever4187 200,000 years waiting for flight. Industrial revolution in 1760s. 140 years later, we fly. 66 years later, we were on the moon. Technology’s not the issue; only the will to make it happen. I think we can achieve fusion. (We certainly would have had it by now if it received proper funding)

[@lenwhatever4187]

@@evilpanky We have "achieved fusion". That is not the problem.... Getting more out of it than we put in with some amount of control is the roadblock.... always has been.... might always be. Funding he says... it's making boat ownership look cheap already. (boat = a hole in the water one throws money into) Fusion = a hole in the universe one throws money into. The current technology being tried may just not be the right way... lasers and magnets both take too much power. Maybe some smart kid with a totally new idea will make this work one day

[@evilpanky]

@@lenwhatever4187 I reckon it can totally be done. JET achieved Q = 0.7, ITER (while not commercial or net electric) will achieve ignition (Q > 5 or so). I'm certain ARC and STEP will achieve net electric. I'm also hoping for positive results from the Inertial Confinement stuff. We've achieved amazing results with such shoestring budgets.

[@evilpanky]

@@lenwhatever4187 Also, when people say "achieve fusion", they generally mean commercially-relevant fusion. Fusion's been done in labs since the 1930's.

[@user-if1ly5sn5f]

If they can get that projectile and energy food that ignites then we could have a machine use fluidlike dynamics to predict the flow and maybe use multiple explosions in an order in dynamics and instead of cancel waves, build bigger energy waves. Like when you push a swing while it’s swinging to give it more energy or slow it down. A series of explosions detonated by projectile and then using the dynamics to carry the chain reaction or something. Magnetic fields can help guide and circulate the flow maybe.

[@964tractorboy]

An outstanding presentation. Thank-you to all involved!

[@satkotech]

Great talk with really incredible speakers! They did an amazing job breaking down the achievements and what they are working on so even non technical people can grasp what fusion is, and why it's important for the future of humanity.

[@riverbender9898]

Wonderful presentations! Thank you for the updates.

[@robertbriggs3578]

Great presentation and an encouraging perspective. It occurred to me however that wouldn't it be goodie the energy released could be converted directly to electrical energy without having to suffer the inefficiency of the heat/steam/rotational cycle. Is there any research in this direction (I'm imagining of some kind of plasma electric process analogous to the photoelectric effect) or is this too far fetched?

[@gregbailey45]

Yes, there is. It's very promising.

[@jonathanmacdonald9609]

There is one which essentially uses the magnetic field generated by the fusion as pressure against the magnetic field which contains the fusion, and generates the power using the pressure like some kind of magnetic engine. I believe Sabine Hossenfelder has a video on it specifically, though I forget its name.

[@VeritasPraevalebit]

The big problem for nuclear fusion to become the power source of the future is rarely mentioned. This is the fact that the tritium needed for the operation of a fusion reactor has to be produced by the reactor itself. It is possible to breed tritium in a fusion reactor but producing enough of it will probably turn out to be impossible. The reason for this is that each fusion reactor produces one neutron that could in principle be used to create one tritium atom. But inevitable neutron losses and losses in extracting the tritium will cause the yield to be far less than hundred procent. The only hope to make the losses up is to utilize nuclear reactions that produce more neutrons than they consume. Nobody knows if this will be a solution to the problem.

[@ashleyobrien4937]

well, no, there are other forms of fuel, both neutronic and aneutronic, each with it's own cross section issues and efficiencies and so forth, but of course i'm sure you know all that. And it's spelt "percent" not "procent"....but i'm sure you knew that too........

[@VeritasPraevalebit]

@@ashleyobrien4937 Yes, there are other possible fusion reactions but deuterium-tritium is the lowest hanging fruit. Still, you will need a rather high ladder to reach it. For other reactions I don't think that even the tallest skylift would suffice. That's right, "procent" is Swedish. I was let down by the spelling checker.

[@RippleEffectProductions]

Very informative indeed. Thumbs up

[@Ken00001010]

There are still many steps that have to be taken, and problems solved, to get to practical fusion power. Many talk about getting to higher Q values, but even a Q value of 1000 would not matter if the reactor costs too much to build, or keeps having to be re-built because the plasma destroys the materials. If we get to reactors that work, at all, in the next 10 years, look to many, many more years before the technology matures to be both reliable and economical against other energy sources that exist now, and are expected to become ever lower cost in the next 20 years.

[@omegafile]

I already solved it a year ago and can produce over a trillion watts.... but nobody of importance has seen it. Already engineered all the parts.. but they need to be tuned to a specific note. My device uses a hole and it's really simple... and is more advanced than the Tokamac and actually works. It's over a trillion watts and the size of ... 2 ft x 4 ft....... under 100k dollars to build too. It gains mass so it may actually slow time around it if made large enough. It also makes it's own water and uses it as fuel.. it gets cavitated from the radio frequency.

[@jeffpeachman]

@@omegafile No one of importance will see it because it's nonsense.

[@jeffrooow]

I know this is all groundbreaking science. All of these will provide us with valuable information. It does seem typical that the American version of fusion is basically bigger explosions with lasers.

[@johnjakson444]

That is the mission statement of the NIF, it is to do research in understanding how fusion works in thermo nuclear weapons sometimes called hydrogen bombs. It has only recently been hijacked into a mission that will produce hyperthetical power plants. BTW, all of the energy that comes from so called hydrogen fusion bombs, only a small part is really from fusion. It is more acurate to describe them as Fission/Fusion/Fission weapons since most of the energy comes from the uranium blanket. Teller describes them as Super A bombs, fusion makes fission go much better.

[@evilpanky]

@@johnjakson444 It reminds me of Von Neumann working on the hydrogen bomb. Everyone wanted computers for the hydrogen bomb, and he wanted the hydrogen bomb for computers. Hijacking a weapons programme for the public good sounds alright to me!

[@Loroths]

The Amerucan version of everything is bigger explosions with lasers. Levity aside, yeah there are multiple ways to create the fusion. Magnetic conduction which is generally most talked about, the laser firing causing fusion in a billionth of a second is another. This industry is fascinating and exciting.

[@jb76489]

Why do you think you felt the need to say something so dumb Jeff?

[@jeffrooow]

@jb76489 Hardly dumb. Factually correct. It was funny because it is true. If you feel the need to correct me where I'm wrong please do so.​

[@horridhippie9194]

18:36 that was a wonderful résumé, ty! and ty all the scientists who dont give up hope! maybe with the strategy for decrease of methane escape (if it would be done), our children and future generagions might have a chance still!

[@vernonbrechin4207]

Many people look to the younger generation to solve many of the problems that the older adults failed to find answers to. All the nuclear fusion physicists, that worked on these issues during the 1960s and 1970s, never saw the dream that they worked on get anywhere close to turning into practical results, by the time they retired. Some of them are now dead. There was a push to continue funding the JET experiment until the ITER began operation. At that time it was believed that the ITER would begin such operations by 2026. Due to more problems encountered there it is highly unlikely that ITER will produces its first fusion reaction by 2030. These issues weren't mentioned in this very recent video. The much of the fusion derived energy will need to be fed back to the plant to sustain the plasma high temperature and containment. At least you are aware that increasing methane emissions are just one of the many positive feedback mechanisms that are contributing to the warming of this planet.

[@BenjineGerber]

Perhaps the IR from condensing steam could be another source of energy to feed back into the system

[@johnh6245]

Excellent NIF lecture, but some comments: 1. The speaker talks about achieving Q=2, but this ignores the 500TW input to drive the lasers; 2. At 50.25 the diagram shows the four main parts of an IFE power plant - but where is the essential tritium breeding part??; 3. I’m told that the final laser lens will quickly be blackened by the fusion neutrons. Is this correct?

[@viperswhip]

NIF is not meant to be a commercially viable fusion power plant, it is for testing methodology. They can't really afford to put in more efficient lasers, they were built almost 15 years ago. Part of what they are researching is material that will survive the continual high-powered laser shots. Material sciences is probably the most important engineering discipline.

[@BartdeBoisblanc]

@@viperswhip Material Sciences is so unappreciated for Fission and Fusion to be achieved.

[@AndersHaalandverby]

To all the skeptics with the "always 20 years away" argument.. Yeah, this is true, of course, we dont know how far away it is, or if its ever even possible to get a stable surplus of power from these things, but I still think we should double our efforts on this. The unbelievable (pun intended) advantages if we ever achieve it, would be worth the effort a thousand times over. And even if we never get a working reactor from it, research in this area will likely lead to unknown discoveries anyway. Everything impossible and futuristic is impossible until one day it isnt.

[@stupidas9466]

Not to say you are wrong, but it's also important to realize that just because a couple of times in the past an idea that seemed futuristic and impossible turned out to be actualized, millions of other ideas that seemed futuristic and impossible turned out to be just that. Turning over known science and the status quo is extremely rare. Newtonian physics wasn't overturned by Relativity, which wasn't overturned by Quantum physics, they built upon each other and apply equally well, depending on size and speed. Fusion, as is being looked at now, isn't such a case. To your other point that even if it doesn't ever work there may be discoveries made during the research that may be of great unknown benefit (whether in technologies or simply in knowledge) seems reasonable, but it is just as, if not more so, reasonable that if the billions of dollars being spent on fusion was instead spent elsewhere (there are only so many science dollars to go around) even more benefits would arise from that research.

[@D_0ktor]

I second this. Maybe I'm just too optimistic, but there's got to be at least some benefit to investing in fusion. Even if we don't get it working in our lifetimes.

[@firstnamelastname2669]

Maybe, but we need to remember that resources are always limited i.e. we sacrifice spending in other areas to prioritise this. We also need to face the reality that this is very unlikely to arrive in time to help meet UN zero carbon goals. Lets hope at least one of the 100 plus startup disrupts the field to falsify that assessment.

[@dewibermingham816]

Just don't use money for this research that could usefully be used to limit the effect of climate change! We must do that today! 20 years to get this tech working in the lab is too late

[@BilichaGhebremuse]

0:18 AS spaceship print is it possible to print tecomact

[@davedsilva]

Looking forward to watching to see if there is serious merit, requiring a discussion on rhe quantum mechanics of fusion, referencing the low power requirements of the quantum fusion experiments.

[@ashleyobrien4937]

are you kidding ? "serious merit" ??? Do you seriously think that nations and multinationals would spend billions on a "maybe" ? is it not likely that they just MIGHT just have experts who know a bit more about it you ? or I ?...come on man....

[@liamreed8636]

@@ashleyobrien4937 people take a few lectures on quantum mechanics, or watch a few videos on fusion and suddenly think their opinions weigh more than the actual engineers and scientists working on the projects themselves.

[@jedi10101]

10:25 where's the chart for the sustained 1 minute operation?

[@vernonbrechin4207]

The widely announced December 5, 2022, NIF experiment left out many key details. One was that the microscopic fusion reaction lasted for only approximately 0.000,000,000,08 second. Only approximately 4% of the extremely expensive fuel reacted before the rest was blown away from the reaction center. It took around a week to set up the experiment.

[@JacquesMartini]

@@vernonbrechin4207 One shot wonder!😂

[@vernonbrechin4207]

@@JacquesMartini - Since the December 5, 2022, NIF shot they have recorded about four succeeding shots that achieved close to the so-called 'break-even' yield, and one that was almost twice the original announced value. That, in the face that they claimed they can fire the laser up to around three times a day. They rarely shoot so often. Still, the reaction last far less then a nanosecond and the input energy into the building exceeds 100 times as much energy as they measured from the fusion reactions.

[@shmookins]

Korea managed to have a fusion going for 48 seconds.

[@Aj-kl7nl]

Wow. They have used the merger of all the visible spectral wave lengths to simulate the sun more closely. I am looking forward to the results!

[@alexwilsonpottery3733]

I’m curious about the investment returns in the fusion acronym industry.

[@imager8763]

Excellent presenation!

[@ShonMardani]

How does the Hydrogen in the Sun remain separated from Helium and gradual and controlled Fusion occur? Does anyone know?

[@bullkathos4358]

it happens because helium is more dense than hidrgen so it ¨sinks¨ to the center of the star meanwhile hidrogen in the other inner layers can continue fusing, but it is no gradual or controlled fusion it happens very violently and widespread around the particular layer of the star and is contained thanks to the enourmus gravity that pulls to the center.

[@ShonMardani]

@@bullkathos4358 It is hard to imagine sinking Helium at 15 million degrees, how do the atoms know which way to go? Do He atoms push / sink toward the center and the H ejects out all the way to the earth at which point H atoms convert to Photons?

[@krabkit]

​@@ShonMardani the helium does not need to move in any particular direction, on average it will have an easier time moving towards the center and slightly harder time moving out which over time randomly moving makes it sink.

[@JohnDunne001]

@@krabkit nicely put. There’s a subtly to the nuclear processes happening inside the Sun which is hard to grasp intuitively at first. Appreciating how the core and the envelope of the Sun differ and over the huge scale of the inside of the sun, averages matter greatly. Fascinating topic!

[@JohnDunne001]

@@ShonMardani you’re asking good questions. Remember the Sun is huge, and a helium atom will be feeling the force of gravity over a travel distance of 100,000’s of miles so it all adds up to an eventual pull toward the center. Consider this, the photon emitting from fusing H atoms in the core takes on average, millions of years to finally be emitted as sunlight! The core is complicated!

[@mikemauck2192]

Doesn't the reaction need to be substantively exothermic for this to work? Maybe the extra energy is added by hot air?

[@codewizard58]

Once fusion is available, how do we disipate the waste heat? Use fusion to scrub greenhouse gasses?

[@motor2of7]

It’s hard enough to develop the technology required to achieve stable fusion……but we know even less about the inner workings of the global ecosystem. Scrubbing greenhouse gasses gets into the realm of climate modification, and because we simply don’t know where to stop….some level of greenhouse gasses are required to sustain life……I for one think Mother Nature is infinitely more capable of managing the environment.

[@torussaga3428]

Intriguing

[@dimuthrubesinghe7319]

All we're very nervous, i hope it's gonna materialize soon

[@vernonbrechin4207]

The nuclear power promoters have learned to capitalize upon the general fear that we have little time left to turn this 'Titanic' around. They do this often to promote their favored technology. They, along with the vast majority of the Earth's 8.0+ billion people, continue to assume that we have 20-30 years left to find a magical technological fix. They have become masterful in excluding the following warnings from their consciousness. I urge readers to search for the following article titles. IPCC report: ‘now or never’ if world is to stave off climate disaster (TheGuardian) UN chief: World has less than 2 years to avoid 'runaway climate change' (TheHill) * This statement was made 5 years ago.

[@sarcasmo57]

I hope it works and we can live in energy abundant plenty.

[@dewibermingham816]

Don't hold your breath!

[@ismailnyeyusof3520]

Though there are sceptics aplenty, and while it’s true it is a very difficult task to create a star on our planet, the fact is that fusion energy has been created and is being scaled up. On top of it all, achieving a succesful scaled up fusion energy power plant is of vital importance to achieving a long held goal to leave our planet better than we found it. However, if it proves too elusive despite all our best efforts and expenses, then we still have our natural, gravity confined, succesful fusion plant in the sky.

[@hrperformance]

54:38 Thank you!

[@MajorWolf72]

I fully understand that the scientists in this field are painting a rosy picture or leave out some details that would spark questions. If they were completely transparent, funding would drop sharply as investment these days is focused on short term success. In reality, actually producing meaningful amounts of energy via fusion is a lot closer to the year 2100 than it is to 2050. It’s a fascinating field, absolutely, but there’s A LOT of details that still have to be gotten right before we reach the big goal.

[@Vatsyayana87]

Anyone that claims they know when it will be feasible is a fool. The "20 year" scientists, the hype sellers, and you doing it here. You dont have the slightest idea when break throughs will happen in order to put the pieces together, but it seems like its coming together.

[@vernonbrechin4207]

Virtually all nuclear power advocates along with the vast majority of the Earth's 8.0+ billion other humans have become masterful in excluding the following warnings from their consciousness. I urge readers to search for the following article titles. They often do this to avoid becoming depressed. This 'Titanic' is about to hit the iceberg but we keep hoping. IPCC report: ‘now or never’ if world is to stave off climate disaster (TheGuardian) UN chief: World has less than 2 years to avoid 'runaway climate change' (TheHill) * This statement was made 5 years ago.

[@theextragalactic1]

[@hennermartin9260]

Wonderful!

[@ShonMardani]

Google say: Ionization is the process by which ions are formed by gain or loss of an electron from an atom or molecule. How do you remove the only electron Hydrogen atom has? If you do atom collapses in to the size of a proton.

[@alvarorodriguez1592]

Representativos of a stellarators should have been present. I am curious to see what the NIF representative says, but their research is not about fusion for peace, but thermonuclear bombs.

[@tim40gabby25]

Should AGI appear, and this task could be delegated to it, then our primary task should be to make AGI safe before it exists?

[@marsspacex6065]

A fusion reactor i think will always be out competed by indirect fusion (solar power) but where fusion will really shine is as a mobile source of power that works anywhere without connecting to the grid and will be invaluable in space as both surface power on other planets and in fusion rockets and spacecraft powered by fusion for interstellar travel.

[@ashleyobrien4937]

"indirect fusion" (solar power) lol oh boy that's a good one ! haha! that's like saying Trepanning is just like a paracetamol tablet....

[@marsspacex6065]

@@ashleyobrien4937 the sun is a fusion reactor and we just capture that energy. Fossil fuels are even more indirect or stored fusion as organism gained energy from the sun long ago and became fossil fuels.

[@CentauriAB]

Will they be able to capture the helium? Does that mean we won't have to worry about a helium supply anymore?

[@ickorling7328]

Yes. If they cant, thays their fault. Helium doesnt dissapear, it shows up in the room ventilation would capture it

[@erikburzinski8248]

I didn't think we were weried about it before as we have enough for about 3000 years if I recall correctly.

[@peterknutsen3070]

I th8nk it’ll be captured, yes, but it’ll be very small amounts of helium.

[@JohnDunne001]

The amount of Helium produced will be miniscule compared to what industry uses.

[@ickorling7328]

@@JohnDunne001 Speaking theoretically about an experimentally proven set of technologies; on fusion generating helium and able to convert hydrogen.... There are two things working for us, the direct production, and the indirect enablement to capture helium from the aptmosphere and run the machines or vehichles required to caputure it. Hydrogen based fuels are energy based to produce, so at least we get unlimited energy and rocket / jet / car fuel. Helium doesnt just dissapear into space, we just relied on helium being relatively easier to aquire from underground repositories and low efficiency air capture technologies. Ultimately, when energy is fully abundant, we would be able to aquire resources easier, and thus make more fusion reactors with said resources in a slightly positve reinforcement loop. If we start running out of resources on earth, we can mine the whole solar system and recycle better (restore sillica for instance) and virtually never run out. How do we reach it? Having fusion reactors on a pathway in space to turn cargo water into oxygen and hydrogen as fuel, for refuling smaller ships over hops. Then the channel flown in space can be a space road, with sparesely spread out space drones following behind the ship literally launched from the station into another station. The drones purpose is to collect the dispelled ions (H2O, from recombining in combistion) by the rocket, given the rocket has charged its expelled gas via ion thrusters. The drones attracts water, curving its trajectory into collisions, and these drones are positively charged with zenneck surface waves which are positive pulsed surface charge. It can attract the ship's expelled gas. Multiple drones shot at different times and speeds can capture most water but not all. The drones use slight fuel to slow and aim, and the recepitcal of the drone can capture ions too. The station shoots drones equally in both direction. Each time, balancing it in space. Re-capturing drones from a previous station in the line. Thus it may be called a water collector or scientifically a 'Zenneck Samudra drone' meaning 'a drone with positively pulsed electrified surface where water gathers' Cheers all, feel free to spread the idea. This was an original idea of mime, that I'm aware of, based on @e.t.h.e.r.official on IG's description of the B-52 secondary ion thrust electro-mechanisim, and years of expensive research on electromagnetic theory and its underlying applications and evidence. If a similar ion thrust enginer was used on earth, no recaputre drones are needed, and addding a positively charged leading edge will attract negative ions expelled, causing them to move forwards and create forward thrust. Not sure if this applies to rockets in space, but worth a try, as it may operate a bit like an Albuquerque warp drive? See ya around

[@Erik-rp1hi]

Not sure if there is anything out there for the public but how does the NIF work for the study of the nuclear weapon stockpile research? I'd watch a 90 minute video on the subject intensely.

[@toddmarshall7573]

What makes her choose to pursue fusion over Thorium Molten Salt Reactor? Is a MSR too simple and cheap?

[@vernonbrechin4207]

About three decades ago a pair of engineers in the U.S. started to pitch for Thorium MSRs using a variety of social media platforms. They were trying to get the government to invest in their plan. Very little has happened since then despite tens-of-thousand fans now pitching for those dreams. Typically, such fans have no interest in looking critically at such efforts that have become love affairs for them. All nuclear promoters tend to assume that such technologies are the holy grail that will save us. They continue to assume that we have 20-30 years left to turn this 'Titanic' around. They, like the vast majority of Earth's 8.0+ billion humans, have become masterful in excluding the following warnings from their consciousness. I urge readers to search for the following article titles. IPCC report: ‘now or never’ if world is to stave off climate disaster (TheGuardian) UN chief: World has less than 2 years to avoid 'runaway climate change' (TheHill) * This statement was made 5 years ago.

[@antonylawrence7266]

Still not sure how they would siphon off the energy from a plasma ring to a steam turbine ?

[@evilpanky]

The plasma produces neutrons that carry away 80% of the energy of the fusion reaction. These hit and heat the coolant, making it hot. This coolant then goes out to power the turbine! Most of the remaining 20% of the reaction power stays in the plasma as charged particles, helping to keep it hot enough to keep the fusion reactions going!

[@entropiceffect]

Water is a fantastic neutron absorber. (one of the reasons its used in nuclear reactors)

[@NoferTrunions]

Very interesting. I'd like to know if the presenters would prefer the traditional podium instead of the "Ted Talk" format.

[@BilichaGhebremuse]

Could we print the whole plant by using mining and prduction robots and AI...thanks great explanation

[@ferrellms]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[@robjpatterson]

Great talks. Always interesting. Fusion energy can be low carbon but is not inherently sustainable because the fuel will run out relatively quickly. Also the product helium does not cycle back to fuel, deuterium and tritium, so not sustainable. Really nice science though.

[@alvarorodriguez1592]

Relatively quickly? Thousands to millions of years is not good enough for you?

[@dr.zoidberg8666]

Fusion is infinitely sustainable for a spacefaring civilization -- the two technologies are complementary. Perhaps they will mature alongside eachother.

[@walkabout16]

Gather 'round, seekers of knowledge bright, As we delve into the depths of cosmic light. At the Ri's embrace, on a February night, We journey into the realm of fusion's might. Fernanda Rimini, with expertise profound, Unveils the secrets of JET, where wonders abound. In plasma's dance, where temperatures soar, We glimpse the future, in fusion's core. Pietro Barabschi, with vision clear, Guides us through ITER, without fear. A monumental project, on a global scale, Where dreams of clean energy never fail. Tammy Ma, with passion ablaze, Reveals NIF's experiments, in cosmic maze. In the heart of fusion's fire, they strive, To unlock the secrets of energy alive. Compered by Melanie Windridge's keen insight, We journey through fusion's dazzling light. At the Ri's embrace, where minds ignite, We glimpse the future, burning bright. So let us celebrate, these pioneers bold, Who journey into the cosmic fold. In fusion's embrace, we find our way, To a future bright, in the cosmic play.

[@whoguy4231]

I use fusion energy everyday as I'm offgrid. The Sun is the perfect fusion reactor and is free everyday. If all the monies spent on fusion had been spent on space based solar, we would have unlimited energy today.

[@Longknose7360]

I Must find out how to fuse my different personalities to be more energetic and useful to society in general. Quench my turbulences

[@dougg1075]

Wouldn’t it be crazy if aliens tell us “ you are so close, the only thing you need now is peanut butter “

[@user-qz7ci1sl1v]

پیشرفت هاتون فوق العادست این مشکل انرژی حل بشه به نفع همه است

[@tonic.1871]

If it did not have a decent chance there would hardly be poured bill of $of private equity in to start ups

[@jedi10101]

47:14 how much energy was used to make the pellet?

[@Sekir80]

How much energy was used to power the lasers? She conveniently "forgot" to mention that one.

[@Kerbezena]

@@Sekir80 She didn't "forget" that. At 52:57, she stated that they'd need a gain of 15-16 to have a self-sustaining plant. They already increased the gain by a factor of 1000 so 7 or 8 times more is maybe achievable in the foreseeable time, but on top of that they'll have to come up with a way to reload the machine with targets for a firing rate of 10 Hz, about the rate of fire of a Maxim gun. From my layman perspective, it seems like inertial confinement has a lot more challenges to overcome to go from experimental to industrial when compared to toroidal magnetic confinement. On the one slide, they talked about bringing down the cost of a pellet down to 30 cents. A typical coal fired power plant of about 750 MW consumes about $330 in coal in 1/10 of a second. I don't think the energy that goes into making the targets is going to be the big issue here, when these things are produced at scale.

[@jedi10101]

@@Sekir80 she mentioned that & it's lower vs the output, thus ignition -more out than in. however, i suspect the energy used to make the pellet wasn't included.

[@danzvash]

2 boiled eggs and a pickled cabbage

[@vernonbrechin4207]

The lab announcement made no mention into the energy that went into creating the diamond shell fuel capsules. They did mention that hundreds of them are manufactured but only a few can meet the extreme standards needed to be used as fuel pellets. In the December 5, 2022, experiment announcement, one estimate was that the vaporized target assembly cost was greater than $100,000. The experiment resulted in about enough fusion energy to boil two liters of water. In such presentations numerous details are left out.

[@LB-ng8ez]

best video in existence ☀️

[@ashleyobrien4937]

sure, if you have seen them all, which you have not.

[@crhu319]

You know what they dont say? Floating wind and floating wave and on-building solar as cheap as dirt, and thermocoupling breakthroughs making ground heat easy to turn to electricity, and new materials making everything lighter. None of which requires a costly brittle radioactive neutron scattering sheath. The thing that made fission uneconomic. Nor about harvesting static potebtial or lightning from the air.

[@sceptic33]

all this trouble to generate heat that can be turned into electricity. people should be using the "waste" heat generated by data centres to generate electricity. simple heat pump and stirling engine combo would do the trick. on the subject of fusion, i find the LPP dense plasma focus system much more interesting than these options, shame it wasn't covered in the talk. same is true of the first light projectile system.

[@bmobert]

When you're a jet, you're a jet all the way; from your first cigarette to your last dying day!

[@niictar]

I feel like we’re going to get fusion before Nintendo gives us a Switch 2 at this point

[@holretz1]

I am astounded by the level of ignorance in these comments here. Fusion is the most technologically challenging project in the history of mankind. So how can anyone wonder that it takes a lot of time ? - and the progress is undeniable. Fusion is now done routinely everyday. So people here in the comments talking about it beeing 20 years in the future are either ignorant, stupid or both. Fusion is NOT science anymore it is engineering. It's pretty obvious for anyone with just a small bit of sound reason that ITER will be a huge succes despite smaller setbacks. It's a very good idea that they build it large, so it can convincingly demonstrate the feasability of fusion power.

[@loeffelm]

See you in 20 years

[@justingrey6008]

Fusion is like Zeno's paradox. Forever half way to completion.

[@williammatthews7735]

​@@justingrey6008 we are definitely far past halfway. The accumulated efforts of 3 generations, and every field of stem, has put us on the cusp of using this technology to power our grids. It may feel like we are halfway there because, for a few decades, we were. Then other fields of science made advances that advanced this technology as well.

[@justingrey6008]

@@williammatthews7735 familiarize yourself with Zeno's paradox

[@denissy-qn6xz]

Hi everyone.

[@GenaTrius]

Oh one of those people in that crowd is Doctor Who, I know it, I done seen this episode

[@WWeronko]

We need fusion energy. Progress is being made. However, describing the progress as glacial gives glaciers a bad name. I would be surprised if my grand children's children see a practical commercial power plant. The more I read about fusion energy and watch these sort of videos I get the feeling it is more of a jobs program for physicists than it is a urgent developmental initiative.

[@vernonbrechin4207]

It has become common, for those involved in the over a dozen nuclear fusion energy projects, to over-hype their particular machines, often to attract venture capital funding. Typically they fail to mention the numerous problems that they have encountered since the research began in the 1950s. In the case of the National Ignition Facility (NIF) almost all the funding has always come from the U.S. nuclear weapons program because its primary purpose has always been as a thermonuclear weapon (H-bomb) research tool. The administrators have become masterful in obscuring that fact whenever they present to the press and to the general public.

[@TropicalCoder]

Practical fusion energy is only 30 years away!

[@dr.zoidberg8666]

Even if it were 3000 years away, it'd be a good investment. Fusion power means the problem of energy is solved forever.

[@TropicalCoder]

@@dr.zoidberg8666 True

[@MCR0709]

Looks like ppt editing training is mandatory for these scientists.

[@stephenarmiger8343]

Some humans, however many, are concerned about our fellow creatures. Not so much domesticated animals. Cows, pigs, cats, dogs. But wolves, bison. Untamed animals. Some envision fewer humans utilizing less space. More grasslands, forests. Hopefully teeming with untamed animals. I dream that we can achieve fusion energy and bio diverse landscapes. Sufficiently large enough for migration. Even as I write, I know that I do not have long as the entity that I am. Soon the chemicals from which I consist, will decouple and become something else. Perhaps living. Perhaps not.

[@stephenarmiger8343]

We know something about civilization generally and city size specifically. All this before the internet. Some of our fellow humans probably can speak to the number of humans needed to sustain a scientific community. Do any of us know the minimal number of humans required to advance as a species and to allow for natural ecosystems? Do we actually need to travel off planet earth so as not to destroy her? Big questions!

[@peterwhite8424]

Can fusion be profitable without gravity

[@viperswhip]

It is 20 years away.

[@themustardfarmer]

"it (fusion) doesn't produce any radioactive waste" Really? With the energies involved, that seems impossible.

[@vernonbrechin4207]

In the case of Deuterium/Tritium (D/T) reactions that is correct. First the tritium is radioactive and not all of it is consumed by the reaction. Some ends up embedded in the reactor walls. The reaction generates 14.1 MeV fusion neutrons which travel into the reactor structure where they become 'thermalized.' Then the neutrons enter the nucleuses of structural components, causing some of them to trans-mutate into various isotopes, many of which are radioactive. When such components need to be replaced, or the plant is decommissioned then such components will likely have to be treated as low level radioactive waste. Most of the promoters of this technology have become masterful at deception and exclude major downsides. Often this is part of an effort to attract potential investors.

[@Tossphate]

Frickin' laser windscreen wipers

[@horridhippie9194]

30:30 😵

[@AhmadEjaz]

Great presentation but latest in fusion as a topic should cover new approaches and recent improvements made to in relevant technologies and not just cover the achievements of well known public institutions

[@Jana-fp8qp]

Energy will never be free. It will always cost the man at the bottom.

[@xeoncat]

NIF looks like science fiction

[@jlfqam]

ICF needs a CATALYST

[@eternity_warriors]

The only thing about Fusion Reactors is true - You learn it from Total Annihilations - they go Ka-Boom. Safety Fist. Including meltdown and critical scenarios. Lean from Stalker, I mean Call of Pripyat, I mean 1986 catastrofe.

[@davidf2281]

Wait, IKEA is doing fusion reactors now? Crikey.

[@erikburzinski8248]

Place sun in slot E5

[@daverich3352]

Meat balls heated with plasma

[@majorhowell1453]

I think a magnetic top can be spun with a lazer and generate power. Change my mind or save the world.

[@rasmichael]

If we could somehow convert hype into useable energy we could be off fossil fuels tomorrow.

[@jpcolindesign517]

Amen!

[@nettlesoup]

The AI generated subtitles are very poor, doesn't anyone check these things any more? I'm seeing about one misinterpreted word every 30 seconds.

[@ShonMardani]

Where is the super heated Helium? How do you transfer the heat from He atoms to boil the water? Where and how we separate the H from He and then extract the He from system? Self sustained reaction do not make sense if the fuel (H) is consumed, does He atoms breaks into Hydrogen? Is it better just boil the water using all that electricity and magnets and the energy to produce Hydrogen isotopes? How do you ionize H atoms and how ions can turn into plasma and move through the air atoms? Ionization only happens in liquid not gas/air.

[@AntonOfTheWoods]

"no radioactive waste" is simply not true at all. Less than most fission designs, sure, but none is not true. The moment you have neutrons flying around you have extra radioactivity.

[@vernonbrechin4207]

It is common practice for promoters of nuclear fusion energy projects to mislead and leave out important downsides. Such projects are often over-hyped, often to attract potential investors. Not mentioned in this video is the fact that about 50% of the fuel mixture, in the most common nuclear fusion energy approaches, is tritium which is radioactive and extremely rare, with a current market value of approximately $30,000 per gram. The 14.1 MeV neutrons carry away the majority of the energy which then interact with the surrounding reactor structure. In some cases once the neutrons are 'thermalized' they sometimes generate neutron activation products, many of which are radioactive. That means that when some components need to be replaced, or the reactor is decommissioned, those components will likely need to be treated as low level radioactive waste.

[@deathbreach3448]

If we can master fusion like we did combustion, then imagine starting your car with a fusion powered engine. It would probably sound like a cyber startup due to the fact there’s no macro explosions happening in the engine. The fuel requirements would be dependable entirely on the rich people. But for the most part we know that fusion would last a long time. Imagine having to fill your car up once a month rather than every week or 3 days. Mechanics would probably get paid hella because fixing a fusion engine in theory would be pricey af but manageable for those with low income. It really just depends on how the rich guide our civilization. Are they just tryna get richer for the betterment of themselves via war funds, or are they focused on revolutionary enhancements to daily living? That’s really what’s holding us back is our choices as a whole. I think leaders who are businessmen first, would make the necessary decisions for economic purposes. People who share opinions from both factions

[@vernonbrechin4207]

You failed to mention that the fusion fuel would likely include radioactive tritium. Numerous fusion sales pitches don't mention that, or that the current market value for tritium is approximately $30,000 per gram. Smart business people know how to snow venture capitalists so they will fund such fusion projects.

[@deathbreach3448]

@@vernonbrechin4207 so we would need to advance our extraction tools a lot more to produce more. But because there’s no guarantee of success, no one is throwing money at it except for scientists that get funded via government means I assume

[@ShonMardani]

What keeps the Helium from breaking into Hydrogens? What is moderating/slowing down the fusion reactions from consuming all the H atoms? Did we ever join H atoms to He atoms on the earth?

[@jmoney4695]

Helium fissioning into hydrogen is way more energy intensive than hydrogen -> helium. The reaction is self moderated because of the incredibly high energy requirements for sustained reaction. Yes, hydrogen has been fused into helium many times, both in particle accelerators and experimental fusion reactors.

[@dlseller]

Fusion is always 20 years away.

[@landoflittlerain]

Too bad we don't have a massive fusion reactor in the sky that gives us energy for free or anything.

[@lynntaylor349]

her vocal fry alone is hot enough to ignite the whole planet

[@sarcasmo57]

Man. Good luck with all this. And hurry up.

[@UMBERRRTO1]

Italian women seem to be spearheading all of humanity's science these days. Take notice!

[@Erebusdidnothingwrongish]

40:27 14 seconds and they got a very small bump. It does not take into account the build-up of energy before the “device came online she said”. Worst talk on this channel I have seen. I am happy to argue the point. Please tell me I'm wrong ❤️🇬🇧💯

[@SuperBongface]

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!! Can we use higher frequencies than X-Rays?!!!!

[@rwt868]

I didn't watch it either. 40 years ago, I wrote off fusion. They will never break even, and tritium will run out long before anybody gets a reactor to actually put one watt onto a grid. If humans want to use the finite fossil fuel economy to build its renewable replacement while it still has the productive capacity to do so (i.e., before peak oil), then solar and wind has to be how.