Cold Fusion -- It's BaaaAAAaaack...

[DanS]

In which case, those exacting scientists who do the tests in their spare time will publish a few articles demonstrating how the sloppy scientists screwed up.

No science was harmed in the preparation of this post.

[The Mad Monk]

Every time DanS posts, God kills a scientist.

[chequita guevara]

We don't see semiconductor transistors in nature, do we? No.

That's only because the temperatures needed don't exist on Earth and we haven't been any place where temperatures are that low. Maybe we'd observe it on Titan?

[The Mad Monk]

Um...no.

[chequita guevara]

no what?

[KrazyHorse]

No, you don't know how transistors are made.

[Guynemer]

I'm no scientician, but don't Newton's Laws put the kibosh on cold fusion from the get-go?

[KrazyHorse]

How so?

[Guynemer]

Isn't cold fusion, essentially, something for nothing? You get out more than you put in?

[KrazyHorse]

No more so than fusion in general is.

You are releasing nuclear potential energy into heat.

It's the same as burning gas to get heat. In that case the potential energy is chemical in nature rather than nuclear

[Guynemer]

Guess I'm wrong. I thought the whole point of cold fusion was that it would supply-literally-limitless energy with a small, finite input. Sort of like a perpetual motion machine.

Regardless, even if I'm wrong in my reasons for dismissing it, Christ on a crutch, how ****ing stupid are we?

[KrazyHorse]

Guess I'm wrong. I thought the whole point of cold fusion was that it would supply-literally-limitless energy with a small, finite input. Sort of like a perpetual motion machine.

Regardless, even if I'm wrong in my reasons for dismissing it, Christ on a crutch, how ****ing stupid are we?

Well, fusion in general does hold the PROMISE of rather large amounts of cheap energy. Whether or not this can be delivered is a technological question. There is nothing perpetual motion about it; rather, it's simply the existence of large, relatively easily accessible sources of fuel (the oceans contain huge amounts of deuterium and tritium)

The real problem is that in order to create a fusion reaction you have to overcome a large energy barrier (you get paid back and more when you actually achieve fusion). High energies = high temperatures. These crackheads think there's some way around that.

[chequita guevara]

No, you don't know how transistors are made.

Wasn't paying attention, and was thinking of super-conducting ceramics.

[Guynemer]

The real problem is that in order to create a fusion reaction you have to overcome a large energy barrier (you get paid back and more when you actually achieve fusion). High energies = high temperatures. These crackheads think there's some way around that.

So are we talking core-of-the-Sun type temperatures, or is there any hope of achieving fusion at something a little more attainable?

[TCO]

What's your assessment on fusion bombs for earth clearing, Kitty? Cut a hole through Nicaragua?