Giant International Fusion Reactor Draws Nearer

nnnneedles writes "BBC is reporting that scientists are deciding on where to build the world's first big fusion reactor. The international effort is described as the boldest nuclear initiative since the Manhattan Project, and holds promise for future unlimited, clean energy. The choice on where to build the reactor currently stands between Japan and France, but apparantly, the U.S. is opposing a french site because France opposed the war in Iraq." There's also an AP story.

Even Donald Rumsfeld.....

[i_want_you_to_throw_]

is eating at French restaurants in DC these days.

Time to move on.

Figures...

[Mondoz]

Never underestimate the power of politically motivated stubborness.

French Reactor...

[Robert Hayden]

We wouldn't want them to surrender it two two drunk germans on a weekend bender, after all.

Freedom Reactor

[akpoff]

The choice on where to build the reactor currently stands between Japan and France, but apparantly, the U.S. is opposing a french site because France opposed the war in Iraq.

Not to mention the French sensibly rejected calling it the "Freedom Reactor".

Japan is the obvious choice!

[Kymermosst]

What, with their obvious tectonic stability, vast distance from any faults and subduction zones, and lack of volcanic activity, they are the perfect choice for building a big, expensive, multinational fusion reactor.

Personally, my preferred choice would be Canada, somewhere on the Canadian Shield.

Obscure reference

[proverbialcow]

They should build it in the northeast US, like in "Infinite Jest." Then, if/when the entire region becomes uninhabitable, we can force the Canadians to accept the "gift" of our land, and they, in turn, can "cave" to separatist Quebecois demands and give them that region.

Cheap reliable energy forever and ever, and everybody wins, except the would-be French. =)

Re:Japan is the obvious choice!

[mumblestheclown]

don't forget godzilla attacks.

I've seen this movie...

[happy_place]

Ive seen this one... Japan gets it. They gain ulimited energy, use it to fuel their great cities, only to have their robotic servants rise up and enslave them, all the while unleashing a great evil upon the world, that only a perky, well-drawn, female scientist and a guy with pointy hair can stop... meanwhile the villain is secretly planning to use the mega energy device as a weapon to destroy the world... Then Godzilla comes from the Island of Monsters and smushes everything... and we turn them away thanks to the loveable japanese children who sing to Gamera and those two twins that dance for Mothra... and umm... um... and just when Ultron's energy is about to give up, Skippy says, "Ultron I believe in you!" Then half the characters die in a horrible holocaust, while one or two tokens who might've drawn close together to each other in the conflict end up going away to pursue profitable careers in archeaology...

Re:Childish behavior?

[Jeff DeMaagd]

Can you back up the accusation that France harbors support for terrorism?

Also, can you consider that there is no "need" to adapt fusion power to weapons, it is called the H-bomb and I'm pretty sure France already has them.

Let me get this straight.

[Daikiki]

The Americans are against building a huge, experimental nuclear fusion reactor in France because they don't like the French? I'd demand it be built smack dab in the middle of Paris. What could possibly go wrong?

Why not host the site in the U.S. ?

[morelife]

Little wonder there's no talk of having the site in the U.S. -- if the international community were to look at the current condition here for nuclear reactor safety and security, and the stance on public disclosure in this regard -- heck, the U.S. shouldn't even be part of the proceedings. (Unless of course Halliburton's doing the infrastructure buildout).

"Hi, we're the guys who orchestrated the French Fry Ban in the Rayburn Office Building Cafeteria, we know exactly how to run everything, who is and is not in the Axis of Evil, and you can't play Nuclear Reactor with us."

Re:This is relying on the obsolete Tokamak design.

[Anonymous Coward]

even if it is actually capable of producing more power than it consumes (like they claim on the web site) it will be monumentally inefficient compared to more modern fusion reactor designs

Do you know what efficient means?

That's it

[WTFmonkey]

I'm sick of this. I'm buying an island and starting my own government. The educational system will consist of science classes only. No Law School, literature class will focus on scientific texts and technical writing, and history will be the history of science. They will not avoid politics entirely (to do that would be foolish) but they will analyzed in scientific ways and conclusions drawn about what would be best in a theoretical framework. The industries will be well beyond state-of-the-art and we'll release projects to the global community if we determine that humanity is ready for them. We keep the cool toys until then.

We'll basically be like the Tlulaxu and Ixians, but without all the shape-shifting. All I need is money to buy the island and a tech base. Who's with me? I'll set us up a paypal account.

the U.S. is opposing a french site because France

[Anonymous Coward]

the U.S. is opposing a french site because France opposed the war in Iraq.

U.S.A. - The most powerful country in the world.

Re:That's it

[utahjazz]

I'm sick of this. I'm buying an island and starting my own government.

Ok, so is your island for or against the war in Iraq?

Socialism

[thatguywhoiam]

Socialism is for insects. And morons.

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Looking to the Future

[AP31R0N]

Would one of the people on this thread who opposed the war come out and say that "If we had not invaded iraq would be better off ten years from now with saddam still in charge and the sanctions in place"? If you can make that assertion with a straight face i will stop bathing, start listening to phish and be high 24/7 like the rest of the pansies who don't understand politics or international relations.

Should build it in Greenland, Iceland, or Siberia

[Ungrounded Lightning]

The choice on where to build the reactor currently stands between Japan and France [,,,]

They should build it in Greenland, Iceland, or Siberia. Then they could achieve cold fusion.

B-)

Where would you prefer to work?

[backdoorstudent]

... In the beautiful south of France or in the Japanese countryside 200km from anywhere?

Well ...

[cfuse]

... but apparantly, the U.S. is opposing a french site because France opposed the war in Iraq.

It's nice to see that the decision is being made on a solely technical basis, lord knows we wouldn't want this to turn into a political shitfight.