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posted by takyon on Monday April 13 2015, @07:00AM   Printer-friendly
from the Big-Magnet dept.

A local affiliate of CBS reports:

General Atomics is scheduled on Friday to unveil a 1,000-ton superconducting electromagnet to be used in a 35-nation fusion energy study. According to General Atomics, the Poway-built device that's powerful enough to lift an aircraft carrier out of the water will be showcased at a news conference in Poway.

The electromagnet will be used in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor experiments in France, in which scientists will try to create a burning plasma that demonstrates the feasibility of fusion energy. Clean fusion energy has been a holy grail for researchers looking for alternatives to standard nuclear energy and carbon-based fuels. Scientists say fusion energy does not create long-term waste products or meltdown risks.

General Atomics is more well-known for their Predator and Reaper military drones. As much negativity is swirling around these parts about the military industrial complex, there could be much potential benefit from the technological progress General Atomics and others are making. What do you all think?

 
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  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by GreatAuntAnesthesia on Monday April 13 2015, @09:37AM

    by GreatAuntAnesthesia (3275) on Monday April 13 2015, @09:37AM (#169610) Journal

    Lift it *out of the water* - in other words, it isn't strong enough to lift a "dry" carrier, but one in water weighs a lot less, because the water is supporting it. At best the magnet would probably be able to get the bottom of the boat to the water's surface, and no further.

    It sounds awesome and I want to see it done.Fuck Fusion!

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