Sandia Labs Takes First Steps Toward Fusion 371
robosmall writes "Sandia Labs has successfully demostrated the emission of neutrons (a side effect of thermonuclear fusion) from a BB-sized capsule of deuterium using using their venerable Z-Machine (eye-candy!). With this achievement they enter the race to create sustained fusion reactions."
Cool picture! (Score:4, Funny)
EEEP!!! The Matrix is coming true! (Score:2, Funny)
Okay, did anybody else look at that and expect to find human bodies powering this device?
Question is... (Score:3, Funny)
Yeah, but can I hook one up to a DeLorean and do time travel?
Z machine? (Score:5, Funny)
-_-_-
Potential amount of energy involved? (Score:3, Funny)
HL? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Fusion is Good but Buoyancy is Better (Score:5, Funny)
He followed with a warning, that not even an Olympic swimmer would be able to remain afloat in the oil, due to its low density.
I don't know. Sounds like a hypothesis in need of experimental testing. Anybody know any Olympic swimmers? ;)
Imagine (Score:1, Funny)
Re:The holy grail of energy (Score:5, Funny)
what do u think they are? programmers?
Re:Cool picture! (Score:5, Funny)
Now all I need is a Delorean (Score:3, Funny)
I haven't been collecting all this garbage for nothing.
Re:Practical fusion at home! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:the lower the density the easier you float. (Score:5, Funny)
Paging Archimedes! Paging Archimedes!
Air is much less dense than water, right? So how come we don't all float up to the moon? Because you, sir, are wrong.
I could go on, but I'm too busy watching for RFC3514 bits.
Re:HL? (Score:4, Funny)
--riney
Re:The holy grail of energy (Score:3, Funny)
Until the machines get a hold of it, then the next thing you know, we're all FREAKING BATTERIES!
UT2003 level (Score:3, Funny)
SB
Re:Fusion is Good but Buoyancy is Better (Score:5, Funny)
Description
In this experiment, we determine the effect of diving into the insulation oil of a fusion
reactor when it is (1) switched off, (2) switched on. As a control we compare the results of diving into a swimming pool containing (3) water, and (4) no water.
Theory
There are four constants which are known to affect this experiment:
Density of air = 1/800 g/cm^3
Density of oil = 0.8 g/cm^3
Density of water = 1.00 g/cm^3
Density of human flesh = 0.9 g - 1.07 g/cm^3
(0.9g = empirical value from floating in water)
(1.07g = value from mass/volume)
Expected results:
As the density of human flesh is very close to water, but greater than oil, it is expected that any human should sink to the bottom of a tank containing oil. It is also expected that a human should float in water, and hit the bottom when air is present.
Experimental method
Several volunteers were asked to jump into the machine when it was switched off and when it was switched on. To eliminate any experimental errors a total of ten volunteers of varying masses were asked to jump into the machine.
As a control, volunteers were also asked to jump into a swimming pool containing water, and into a swimming pool with only air present. The results were as follows:
Oil/off - The volunteers sunk to the bottom.
Oil/on - The volunteers sunk to the bottom and fried.
Water - The volunteers floated
No water - The volunteers hit the bottom.
Conclusion
The results of this experiment confirm our theory that:
(1) Human flesh is denser than that of oil and air.
(2) Anyone willing to dive into a fusion reactor is fairly dense anyway.
(3) If the machine is switched off, a human is going to sink faster than a frozen freedom fry. If the machine is switched on, a human is going to become a crispy freedom fry.
We come to the conclusion that swimming in the insulation oil of a fusion reactor may be hazardous to health.
Re:Fusion is Good but Buoyancy is Better (Score:5, Funny)
Man, that's a lot of overtime.
Re:Tritium in watches. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Decomissioning (Score:1, Funny)
If you deactivate a fusion plant you will have to worry about sounding like Donald Duck for a while.
Re:Question is... (Score:3, Funny)
but it turns out it was just a coffee maker
with a post-it note.