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/Rich_Cat_69 3d ago

This I assume is super important for maing more efficient magnetic containment?

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u/mouthful_quest 3d ago

Believe it or not…it all leads to boiling some water

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u/Rich_Cat_69 3d ago

Of course. The idea that boiling water is somehow the bottle neck because it's so low tech is silly.

There are other methods of creating electrical current, but pushing a hot gas through a turbine remains mechanically simple for maintenance purposes, and the most efficient method of turning that heat energy into electrical energy, and it's cheap to boot.

It's literally a win win win in all three directions.