The latest result is set to fuel optimism that progress is being made towards the dream of limitless, zero-carbon power.
  • vin
    31·
    2 年前

    Wtf do you mean validate nuclear weapons

    • Dr. Dabbles@lemmy.world
      1·
      2 年前

      Exactly what I said. NIF isn’t testing fusion ignition for some benign or altruistic purpose. They are testing it so they can model and validate the behavior of nuclear weapons.

      • vin
        1·
        2 年前

        But they have made thousands of nuclear weapons, and have the production know-how for more. So why bother model and validate and test?

        • Dr. Dabbles@lemmy.world
          2·
          2 年前

          You need to maintain them. You could go look at NIF’s own description. They aren’t secretive about the purpose of this work.

          • vin
            2·
            2 年前

            Thanks! I feel this really hit the point home for me - “NIF also helps address “life-extension” programs—regularly planned refurbishments of weapon systems to ensure long-term reliability.”

            • Dr. Dabbles@lemmy.world
              1·
              2 年前

              Yep, exactly. People that think this news is part of some energy production effort are sorely mistaken. It’s also not the first time an energy positive reaction has happened, since those started happening in the 1970s with tokamaks.