Comments on: Scientists Set to Ignite a Tiny Man-Made Star http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/ The Neat Side of the Web Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:49:51 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: mersk http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1331620 mersk Fri, 02 Jan 2009 01:57:45 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1331620 I made a bunch of the optical components for this. lets hope it works. lol I made a bunch of the optical components for this. lets hope it works. lol

]]> By: liphttam1 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1329222 liphttam1 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:03:11 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1329222 Dun worry its K spidys gonna save us. Dun worry its K spidys gonna save us.

]]> By: coraleaterlinda http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1328847 coraleaterlinda Wed, 31 Dec 2008 22:22:44 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1328847 I can't wait to see what comes out of this. hopefully it will be incredibly awesome. I can't wait to see what comes out of this. hopefully it will be incredibly awesome.

]]> By: JamesB http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1328782 JamesB Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:20:57 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1328782 Sweet, I'll be able to tell my friends I have miniature stars right down the street from my house. Sweet, I'll be able to tell my friends I have miniature stars right down the street from my house.

]]> By: process http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1328604 process Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:20:20 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1328604 I'm surprised the words "inertial confinement" don't show up anywhere in the article. Like Morris said, if this works, the world's energy problems will be solved. I'll be very impressed if this actually works, as I'm not aware of any other fusion reactor that has even reached break even let alone a gain of 10. The wonderful thing about fusion is that you're basically able to choose the products of the reaction, based on what you decide to fuse, unlike fission which is guarenteed to produce dangerous radioactive particles. Fusion is 100% safe, unless you count the extremely high operating temperatures and high-energy neutrons (theoretically used to create tritium). And even though the primary fuels are rare isotopes of hydrogen, there's enough deutrium to sustain all the fusion reactors we could possibly need for longer than the sun will live. And tritium, as I mentioned above, can actually be bred as a byproduct of the fusion reaction. Frickin' sweet! And no, it's not like the sun or Spiderman 2 in the sense that we won't be seeing a sustained ball of fusing matter. In the case of inertial confinement reactors, reactions last a fraction of a second, multiple times per second. Think rapid pulses of energy. I'm surprised the words "inertial confinement" don't show up anywhere in the article. Like Morris said, if this works, the world's energy problems will be solved. I'll be very impressed if this actually works, as I'm not aware of any other fusion reactor that has even reached break even let alone a gain of 10.

The wonderful thing about fusion is that you're basically able to choose the products of the reaction, based on what you decide to fuse, unlike fission which is guarenteed to produce dangerous radioactive particles. Fusion is 100% safe, unless you count the extremely high operating temperatures and high-energy neutrons (theoretically used to create tritium).

And even though the primary fuels are rare isotopes of hydrogen, there's enough deutrium to sustain all the fusion reactors we could possibly need for longer than the sun will live. And tritium, as I mentioned above, can actually be bred as a byproduct of the fusion reaction. Frickin' sweet!

And no, it's not like the sun or Spiderman 2 in the sense that we won't be seeing a sustained ball of fusing matter. In the case of inertial confinement reactors, reactions last a fraction of a second, multiple times per second. Think rapid pulses of energy.

]]> By: CheeseDuck http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1328553 CheeseDuck Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:58:33 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1328553 LOL Awesome Mustache :P LOL Awesome Mustache :P

]]> By: Awesome Mustache http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1328475 Awesome Mustache Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:12:13 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1328475 This didn't work out so well the last time they tried it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cglaHHuotz0 This didn't work out so well the last time they tried it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cglaHHuotz0

]]> By: Morris http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1328463 Morris Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:07:40 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1328463 A "fusion" reactors are safe. They WILL NOT melt-down like the fission reactors we currently use. If something goes wrong in the system, the reaction stops immediately. So there is no chance of a melt-down or large nuclear explosion. In addition there is no harmful radioactive bi-products or pollution produced from the process. You guys should be excited!! This is a big deal, if they can ever get a fusion reactor to work. If they can get a net gain from the energy they put into the process, then the worlds energy needs would be solved overnight. A "fusion" reactors are safe. They WILL NOT melt-down like the fission reactors we currently use. If something goes wrong in the system, the reaction stops immediately. So there is no chance of a melt-down or large nuclear explosion.

In addition there is no harmful radioactive bi-products or pollution produced from the process.

You guys should be excited!! This is a big deal, if they can ever get a fusion reactor to work. If they can get a net gain from the energy they put into the process, then the worlds energy needs would be solved overnight.

]]> By: shawnisboring http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1328461 shawnisboring Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:07:03 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1328461 It's a race to see who can blow up the world first. or alternatively Who can recreate the best black mesa. LHC already has that one guy so i think they're in the lead. It's a race to see who can blow up the world first.

or alternatively

Who can recreate the best black mesa.

LHC already has that one guy so i think they're in the lead.

]]> By: CapnMarrrrk http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1328400 CapnMarrrrk Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:22:15 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1328400 What they're going to draw it with a giant pencil? Reminds me more of Duck Amuck. Anyway, why should we worry? Pistol Shrimp fire that kind of heat off all the time. http://tinyurl.com/7a3xpj What they're going to draw it with a giant pencil? Reminds me more of Duck Amuck.

Anyway, why should we worry? Pistol Shrimp fire that kind of heat off all the time.

http://tinyurl.com/7a3xpj

]]> By: johzephine http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1328352 johzephine Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:58:13 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1328352 Science is getting crazy! It's crazy! Science is getting crazy!

It's crazy!

]]> By: hobbes3 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1328247 hobbes3 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:09:07 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1328247 Spiderman II anyone? Spiderman II anyone?

]]> By: just a guy http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1328205 just a guy Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:50:40 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1328205 a star is really like a (long lasting) perpetual atomic explosion (on a huge scale, of course). So a mini-sun should be like a little nuclear explosion, right? I hope they make sure its short-lived. speaking of surviving the Hardon Collider, did they actual do collisions? I thought it was postponed because of some helium leak? a star is really like a (long lasting) perpetual atomic explosion (on a huge scale, of course). So a mini-sun should be like a little nuclear explosion, right? I hope they make sure its short-lived.

speaking of surviving the Hardon Collider, did they actual do collisions? I thought it was postponed because of some helium leak?

]]> By: atomicsecrets http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1328170 atomicsecrets Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:37:29 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1328170 Wait, why are they trying to poke that guy on the cherry picker with a giant pencil? Or did those mad bastards shrink that man??? ...I really need to read the article before commenting... Wait, why are they trying to poke that guy on the cherry picker with a giant pencil? Or did those mad bastards shrink that man???

...I really need to read the article before commenting...

]]> By: idil http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1328081 idil Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:44:17 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1328081 I hope they are not suicidal mad scientists trying to blow up the world... I hope they are not suicidal mad scientists trying to blow up the world...

]]> By: henningKO http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1328061 henningKO Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:15:28 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1328061 It's a small hydrogen bomb explosion, but without the uranium bomb trigger. Wonderful! It's a small hydrogen bomb explosion, but without the uranium bomb trigger. Wonderful!

]]> By: AJC http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1328039 AJC Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:26:20 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1328039 Mmmm Gort think maybe mix batshit and smelly yellow powder from Volcano with Burnt wood. Mmm Gort love paste made from all three on top of Leaves. Mmm now Gort have after dinner smoke *BOOM* So lets try and build a "Mini Sun" on the "Earth". What do you do if it is a complete success, and you can not put it out? Can we just call these fellas at the NIF "Gort"? Mmmm Gort think maybe mix batshit and smelly yellow powder from Volcano with Burnt wood. Mmm Gort love paste made from all three on top of Leaves. Mmm now Gort have after dinner smoke *BOOM*

So lets try and build a "Mini Sun" on the "Earth". What do you do if it is a complete success, and you can not put it out? Can we just call these fellas at the NIF "Gort"?

]]> By: Christophe http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1328038 Christophe Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:24:13 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1328038 Hey! Here comes another Neatorama T-shirt : I survived the National Ignition Facility! Hoorray, go science! ;) Hey! Here comes another Neatorama T-shirt : I survived the National Ignition Facility! Hoorray, go science! ;)

]]> By: sirwebster http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/comment-page-1/#comment-1328033 sirwebster Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:09:12 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/31/scientists-set-to-ignite-a-tiny-man-made-star/#comment-1328033 Does that image remind anyone else of Half-Life? Does that image remind anyone else of Half-Life?

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