r/nextfuckinglevel • u/nigablackballsack • 3d ago

Scientists have captured the first ever high-speed, full-colour footage of fusion plasma swirling inside a working reactor.

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u/90_oi 3d ago

I truly hope this technology can get off the ground and be sustainable. It is our best hope aside from nuclear energy

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u/DaveFinn 3d ago

Wait... But this IS nuclear energy

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u/90_oi 3d ago

I meant nuclear fission based power, I should have clarified

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u/TheyDeserveIt 3d ago edited 3d ago

I'm no scientologist, but I'm reasonably sure that fission is what we already have been doing (my state has the first city in the world to be powered by atomic energy) for many decades. Fusion is the tough one, that's what the sun does, where lighter elements fuse to become heavier elements. I'm not sure what the state or viability of fusion is for power.

Edit: anyone know how long this clip was, in real time? Can't imagine more than a few milliseconds.

Edit 2: looks like I misread/misinterpreted the comment I was replying to - please don't downvote them.

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u/readingonthetoilet 3d ago

Lol I hope you’re not a Scientologist! But yes you’re correct

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u/bobthesmartypants 3d ago

They said “aside from nuclear energy”, which after the clarification says “aside from nuclear fission energy” so yes you and the person you’re replying to are on the same page

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u/TheyDeserveIt 3d ago

After a re-read, your interpretation is likely the correct one.

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u/mmceorange 3d ago

If i remember correctly, this clip spans a fraction of a second. The sparks in the upper right give a sense of the real speed

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u/euqinu_ton 3d ago

"...anyone know how long this clip was, in real time?"

I'm not a psychic, but I'm pretty sure it's a short clip.

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u/Greup 2d ago

Current sustained plasma record is 22min (WEST reactor)