Comments on: Thorium, fusion, and other energy miracles http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 07:47:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Robert Hargraves http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1682776 Robert Hargraves Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1682776 If you want to understand the potential of thorium, visit http://www.thoriumenergycheaperthancoal.com If you want to understand the potential of thorium, visit http://www.thoriumenergycheaperthancoal.com

]]> By: Ian G http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1681883 Ian G Mon, 18 Mar 2013 04:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1681883 Haven't heard any rebuttals of this analysis by Amory Lovins, but I think much of the "sun doesn't blow 24 hours a day" trope is no longer pertinent. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amory-lovins/climate-change-no-breakth_b_2654248.html Haven’t heard any rebuttals of this analysis by Amory Lovins, but I think much of the “sun doesn’t blow 24 hours a day” trope is no longer pertinent. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amory-lovins/climate-change-no-breakth_b_2654248.html

]]> By: Roland Dorau http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1681073 Roland Dorau Sat, 16 Mar 2013 08:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1681073 They say always the only the same: Continue this way, we have a whole sack of solutions. They say always the only the same: Continue this way,
we have a whole sack of solutions.

]]> By: awjt http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1681024 awjt Sat, 16 Mar 2013 06:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1681024 I think they wanna roll the fuel in beads down a ramp to the center, on a schedule, to keep it "sustained".  But what do I know.  IANANS  I am not a nuclear scientist. I think they wanna roll the fuel in beads down a ramp to the center, on a schedule, to keep it “sustained”.  But what do I know.  IANANS  I am not a nuclear scientist.

]]> By: Bunch http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680988 Bunch Sat, 16 Mar 2013 04:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680988 You must be smoking wacky stuff, dude.  Solar is so not ready for prime time. Maybe never will be. Same with wind. Both require complete back up systems for when sun does not shine or wind does not blow. Also, can only use them is certain locations so many parts of world, country cannot use them at all.  You must be smoking wacky stuff, dude.  Solar is so not ready for prime time. Maybe never will be. Same with wind. Both require complete back up systems for when sun does not shine or wind does not blow. Also, can only use them is certain locations so many parts of world, country cannot use them at all. 

]]> By: Mitchell Glaser http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680900 Mitchell Glaser Sat, 16 Mar 2013 02:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680900 Very good source, thank you! Contains links to all kinds of relevant articles, including one wherein the author says that solar electricity is the obvious answer and would be at even half the efficiency we have already achieved. Very good source, thank you! Contains links to all kinds of relevant articles, including one wherein the author says that solar electricity is the obvious answer and would be at even half the efficiency we have already achieved.

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680736 Cowicide Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680736 <blockquote>I just hope we can get off carbon before something catastrophic happens</blockquote>I fear it's already too late for that if you ask all the people who've lost loved ones and/or homes to extreme weather.

I just hope we can get off carbon before something catastrophic happens

I fear it’s already too late for that if you ask all the people who’ve lost loved ones and/or homes to extreme weather.

]]> By: Editz http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680610 Editz Fri, 15 Mar 2013 21:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680610 Indeed. Indeed.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680572 Brainspore Fri, 15 Mar 2013 21:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680572 @google-31aa7b1faf8f75eafe973c1a76064de4:disqus : Surely we could find more than a  billion or two in useless military spending. @google-31aa7b1faf8f75eafe973c1a76064de4:disqus : Surely we could find more than a  billion or two in useless military spending.

]]> By: Marko Raos http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680554 Marko Raos Fri, 15 Mar 2013 20:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680554  orbital solar power has been viable since the late 60's  orbital solar power has been viable since the late 60′s

]]> By: Mitchell Glaser http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680530 Mitchell Glaser Fri, 15 Mar 2013 20:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680530 Skepticism is a good thing. Why don't we defund some useless weapons to the tune of a billion or two and  use the money to prove the point one way or the other. We just might save the world in the process. Skepticism is a good thing. Why don’t we defund some useless weapons to the tune of a billion or two and  use the money to prove the point one way or the other. We just might save the world in the process.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680491 Brainspore Fri, 15 Mar 2013 20:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680491 I'm totally pro-solar. It's the "we could go near-totally solar <em>without any technological breakthroughs</em>" claim I'm not sold on yet. I’m totally pro-solar. It’s the “we could go near-totally solar without any technological breakthroughs” claim I’m not sold on yet.

]]> By: David Howell http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680474 David Howell Fri, 15 Mar 2013 20:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680474 There's more extensive coverage of this theme at the excellent Do The Math blog: http://physics.ucsd.edu/do-the-math/post-index/ There’s more extensive coverage of this theme at the excellent Do The Math blog:

http://physics.ucsd.edu/do-the-math/post-index/

]]> By: Mitchell Glaser http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680411 Mitchell Glaser Fri, 15 Mar 2013 19:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680411 Yes, that's an issue, as it is with fusion as well. But all sorts of alternatives, new and old, are available. And whatever challenges arise are more than offset by the non-polluting, locally sourced and renewable aspects of solar. Yes, that’s an issue, as it is with fusion as well. But all sorts of alternatives, new and old, are available. And whatever challenges arise are more than offset by the non-polluting, locally sourced and renewable aspects of solar.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680375 Brainspore Fri, 15 Mar 2013 19:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680375 Well, we might want to make sure we have more efficient energy storage options for all the times the sun isn't shining. Well, we might want to make sure we have more efficient energy storage options for all the times the sun isn’t shining.

]]> By: AnthonyC http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680334 AnthonyC Fri, 15 Mar 2013 19:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680334 This is mostly true. If we could credibly commit to saying, "We will no longer approve new fossil fuel power plants or extend the permits for current ones, and will not renew any permits for fossil fuel extraction past 2040," then we would be able to do so without excessive hardship and in the end we'd be better off for it. But energy storage (mobile and grid-scale), large-scale incorporation of intermittent power sources, planning and zoning, building upgrades, dealing with the disproportionate near-term impacts on the very poor -- these are still tricky even with perfect political will. This is mostly true. If we could credibly commit to saying, “We will no longer approve new fossil fuel power plants or extend the permits for current ones, and will not renew any permits for fossil fuel extraction past 2040,” then we would be able to do so without excessive hardship and in the end we’d be better off for it. But energy storage (mobile and grid-scale), large-scale incorporation of intermittent power sources, planning and zoning, building upgrades, dealing with the disproportionate near-term impacts on the very poor — these are still tricky even with perfect political will.

]]> By: SumAnon http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680270 SumAnon Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680270 Everything is better with Thor. Everything is better with Thor.

]]> By: Improbus Liber http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680266 Improbus Liber Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680266  This seems like a much more likely route to fusion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhKB-VxJWpg  This seems like a much more likely route to fusion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhKB-VxJWpg

]]> By: spacedmonkey http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680255 spacedmonkey Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680255 No time is an exaggeration, but with the amount we spend on foreign wars, we could move most of our infrastructure to solar in 10-20 years, without any technological breakthoughs. No time is an exaggeration, but with the amount we spend on foreign wars, we could move most of our infrastructure to solar in 10-20 years, without any technological breakthoughs.

]]> By: Mitchell Glaser http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680206 Mitchell Glaser Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680206 Solar energy is all we need. The technology is already mature enough, and huge advances are still being made. The kind of money we waste on foreign oil and military outlays to protect it could have our energy infrastructure converted in no time. Solar energy is all we need. The technology is already mature enough, and huge advances are still being made. The kind of money we waste on foreign oil and military outlays to protect it could have our energy infrastructure converted in no time.

]]> By: bwohlgemuth http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680198 bwohlgemuth Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680198 Problem is turning laser into a stable-state energy source.  Hard to turn even regular bursts into something you can power a city with (not without a huge capacitor in between or battery). Problem is turning laser into a stable-state energy source.  Hard to turn even regular bursts into something you can power a city with (not without a huge capacitor in between or battery).

]]> By: Romeo Vitelli http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680191 Romeo Vitelli Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680191 Robert Heinlein had his heroes in Rocket Ship Galileo traveling to the Moon in a thorium powered rocket. Those were the days... Robert Heinlein had his heroes in Rocket Ship Galileo traveling to the Moon in a thorium powered rocket. Those were the days…

]]> By: awjt http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680180 awjt Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680180  I dunno... I think the converging lasers are going to beat ITER to sustained ignition.  I dunno… I think the converging lasers are going to beat ITER to sustained ignition.

]]> By: SKR http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680144 SKR Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680144 I'm keeping my fingers crossed that ITER works out. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that ITER works out.

]]> By: Improbus Liber http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680065 Improbus Liber Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680065 We don't have an energy problem.  We have a political problem.  Our current power structure is addicted to carbon.   The answer is renewables (solar, hydro, wind, wave, etc) and next generation nuclear (thorium reactors and deep burn uranium reactors) and maybe fusion in a few years.  I just hope we can get off carbon before something catastrophic happens but I don't think it will happen.  Our leaders are myopic and short-sided to boot. We don’t have an energy problem.  We have a political problem.  Our current power structure is addicted to carbon.   The answer is renewables (solar, hydro, wind, wave, etc) and next generation nuclear (thorium reactors and deep burn uranium reactors) and maybe fusion in a few years.  I just hope we can get off carbon before something catastrophic happens but I don’t think it will happen.  Our leaders are myopic and short-sided to boot.

]]> By: Guysmiley http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680060 Guysmiley Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680060 Thorium isn't some miracle energy source. It was just largely ignored by the U.S. government researchers once it became clear that it couldn't be weaponized like uranium, then totally abandoned when Tricky Dick Nixon decided to instead fund breeder reactors, not because they were a better choice but because they were being researched in southern California, where he needed votes. Thorium isn’t some miracle energy source. It was just largely ignored by the U.S. government researchers once it became clear that it couldn’t be weaponized like uranium, then totally abandoned when Tricky Dick Nixon decided to instead fund breeder reactors, not because they were a better choice but because they were being researched in southern California, where he needed votes.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/thorium-fusion-and-other-ene.html#comment-1680028 Brainspore Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=219051#comment-1680028 Thorium-based energy seems to work pretty well in the comics. Thorium-based energy seems to work pretty well in the comics.

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