We keep burning crap of all kinds to produce energy, while being taunted by a giant fusion reactor in the sky. We’ve been able to fuse a few atoms together, but the ultimate goal of producing more energy than we put in remains elusive. I’ve seen plasma fusion projects that range from disingenuous to fraudulent to just barely possible with extremely fucking difficult engineering.
Typical fusion reactors try to replicate the heat and pressure found in a star, containing the reaction in a vacuum surrounded by supermagnets so it doesn’t all melt into a puddle of metal. That’s the good news. The other idea, “cold fusion” is considered taboo pseudoscience after a history of scandals. All of this is aggravating because everyone can see that it is possible, every single day. Just look up.
Deuterium Energetics discovered nano confinement fusion. Using carbon nanotubes, they can cause deuterium atoms to fuse.
Imagine microscopic Chinese fingercuffs made of carbon atoms.
While the team has a repeatable reaction in the lab, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. NASA has caused the same reaction using metal particles. The team is working to prove their breakthrough in a national lab context before disclosing more details.
Nuclear reactions produce millions of times more energy than any known chemical fuel. We’re determined to find a path to scale atomic energy in our lifetime. Investing in a single breakthrough based on a new discovery is probably unwise, but investing in a bunch of them? Well that could be the smartest move ever. Stay tuned!