"Many centuries worth of burning carbon based fuels. In any case we are not going to be burning much fossil fuel in 2100 due to the advance of solar and wind technologies, not to mention the definite possibility of fusion power."
Yes, fusion is always a possibility. But never a probability. His faith in Bussard's Polywell scheme is quaint. I will continue to regard Polywell as a scam, and Bussard as a huckster (now departed), until such time as they reveal something about their glowing toy. To date, I don't believe that they have released one graph, nor so much as one single data point.
One has to admire the single-minded craziness with which the global warming hysterics are proceeding. They are actually trying to get us to declare the next great futile "war" - the "War on Carbon". Yes, let's make war on an element.
One thing I can't figure though. CO2 is 73% oxygen by weight. Oxygen is clearly the bigger culprit here. So why not declare a war on oxygen? We should all strive to reduce our oxygen foot-print - the GCC people should get out in front and lead on this. Perhaps we need an oxygen tax.
Jeff Mauldin wrote:
Martin: the polywell isn't a scam. It's well established that confinement devices along the lines of the polywell "scheme" produce fusion. The people currently involved are not hucksters promising assured success, but people trying to figure out if anything is there, knowing it might not be. It's likely that the current polywell device built by Nebel et. al. has or will produce fusion (although my non-expert impression is they are currently thinking more about pre-fusion issues such as electron confinement). It's certainly not yet clear that a polywell-type device will produce power in excess of input. Might not work, but not a scam.
Martin wrote:
"Jeff Mauldin wrote:
Martin: the polywell isn't a scam. It's well established that confinement devices along the lines of the polywell "scheme" produce fusion. The people currently involved are not hucksters promising assured success, but people trying to figure out if anything is there, knowing it might not be."
Of course it's well established that IEC devices produce fusion neutrons. It isn't difficult to make fusion neutrons. But they are not claiming to be making a mere neutron source - they are claiming to be developing a fusion reactor (and one that can burn p-B11 too!). Well where is the smallest shred of evidence that their device is of any interest at all?
They claim that they were embargoed by the navy, from which they get funding. How convenient. Funny, the navy funds lots of research which does get published. Why not this stuff? It seems to me that - seeing as the device is so simple - the most important single fact about it from the point of view of a foreign intelligence agency is whether it works or not. And despite the fact that the Polywell people will reveal nothing about it that would allow one to judge whether it might even work, they have no problem boasting about how great it is, how it's better than they had hoped, it works like a top, etc. So much for keeping it secret from the Chinese. Sounds like a crock to me.
They could start to gain some credibility by quoting three numbers - density, temperature, and energy confinement time. They should not be too hard to measure in a steady-state device, the first two of that famous triad at least.
What diagnostic equipment do they have? What measurements ARE they making? Have they ever said? Do they ever say? I've never seen where they even mention what measurements they are making. At best, they are confused amateurs, at worst, they are frauds. That is all I can rationally conclude from their statements.
philw1776 wrote:
People LAUGHING at AGW and Al Gore? No, couldn't be!
Note: The comment system is functional, but timing out when returning a response page. If you have submitted a comment, DON'T RESUBMIT IT IF/WHEN IT HANGS UP AND GIVES YOU A "500" PAGE. Simply click your browser "Back" button to the post page, and then refresh to see your comment.
About this Entry
This page contains a single entry by Rand Simberg published on July 29, 2008 7:30 AM.
‘tis a consummation devoutly to be wished
CC may end, but the crazies will remain.
CV states:
"Many centuries worth of burning carbon based fuels. In any case we are not going to be burning much fossil fuel in 2100 due to the advance of solar and wind technologies, not to mention the definite possibility of fusion power."
Yes, fusion is always a possibility. But never a probability. His faith in Bussard's Polywell scheme is quaint. I will continue to regard Polywell as a scam, and Bussard as a huckster (now departed), until such time as they reveal something about their glowing toy. To date, I don't believe that they have released one graph, nor so much as one single data point.
One has to admire the single-minded craziness with which the global warming hysterics are proceeding. They are actually trying to get us to declare the next great futile "war" - the "War on Carbon". Yes, let's make war on an element.
One thing I can't figure though. CO2 is 73% oxygen by weight. Oxygen is clearly the bigger culprit here. So why not declare a war on oxygen? We should all strive to reduce our oxygen foot-print - the GCC people should get out in front and lead on this. Perhaps we need an oxygen tax.
Martin: the polywell isn't a scam. It's well established that confinement devices along the lines of the polywell "scheme" produce fusion. The people currently involved are not hucksters promising assured success, but people trying to figure out if anything is there, knowing it might not be. It's likely that the current polywell device built by Nebel et. al. has or will produce fusion (although my non-expert impression is they are currently thinking more about pre-fusion issues such as electron confinement). It's certainly not yet clear that a polywell-type device will produce power in excess of input. Might not work, but not a scam.
"Jeff Mauldin wrote:
Martin: the polywell isn't a scam. It's well established that confinement devices along the lines of the polywell "scheme" produce fusion. The people currently involved are not hucksters promising assured success, but people trying to figure out if anything is there, knowing it might not be."
Of course it's well established that IEC devices produce fusion neutrons. It isn't difficult to make fusion neutrons. But they are not claiming to be making a mere neutron source - they are claiming to be developing a fusion reactor (and one that can burn p-B11 too!). Well where is the smallest shred of evidence that their device is of any interest at all?
They claim that they were embargoed by the navy, from which they get funding. How convenient. Funny, the navy funds lots of research which does get published. Why not this stuff? It seems to me that - seeing as the device is so simple - the most important single fact about it from the point of view of a foreign intelligence agency is whether it works or not. And despite the fact that the Polywell people will reveal nothing about it that would allow one to judge whether it might even work, they have no problem boasting about how great it is, how it's better than they had hoped, it works like a top, etc. So much for keeping it secret from the Chinese. Sounds like a crock to me.
They could start to gain some credibility by quoting three numbers - density, temperature, and energy confinement time. They should not be too hard to measure in a steady-state device, the first two of that famous triad at least.
What diagnostic equipment do they have? What measurements ARE they making? Have they ever said? Do they ever say? I've never seen where they even mention what measurements they are making. At best, they are confused amateurs, at worst, they are frauds. That is all I can rationally conclude from their statements.
People LAUGHING at AGW and Al Gore? No, couldn't be!
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/al_gore_places_infant_son_in?utm_source=onion_rss_daily
"Al Gore Places Infant Son In Rocket To Escape Dying Planet"
xhtpeuw wnpl qrakwibov hlpax kywfzn nrel tzdhnbe
xhtpeuw wnpl qrakwibov hlpax kywfzn nrel tzdhnbe