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US scientists achieve net energy gain for second time in a fusion reaction
(www.theguardian.com)
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this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2023
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Except this one isn't basic physics research. It's an end run around nuclear weapons treaties to test how missiles and planes respond to H-bombs going off nearby.
It could have an energy application (maybe), but given that the targets are ludicrously expensive, the most viable power plant would resemble the attempts in the 60s to use bombs in underground caverns to heat things up and put essentially a geothermal plant on top. Except with a laser detonator rather than a fission one. Chances of making it economically viable or reliable are slim.
Yeh that was me being circumspect. Last time i called it a weapons facility I got one of the researchers in my replies complaining that they totally intend to get round to some energy research one of these days. He didn't bother to correct any of the people in the same thread who were excited about their fusion power dreams finally coming true.
It's a shame. Blasting tritium into a mini sun with a massive frikken laser is plenty cool without having to misrepresent it so much.