DTN 035: Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough Keeps Getting Better

Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough Gets a Bigger Burst of Laser Energy

“In July, scientists at the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California generated a burst of energy by bombarding a pellet of hydrogen with 192 lasers, reproducing for a brief moment the process of fusion that powers the sun. It was a repeat of an experiment last December, but this time the scientists generated even more energy with nearly a factor of two in gain compared with the energy of the incoming lasers. The better-than-predicted result indicates that with a few tweaks, laser fusion can become markedly more efficient.” (The New York Times)

Chinese astronauts may build a base inside a lunar lava tube

“On the moon, astronauts will need protection from a different set of hazards. They’ll have to contend with cosmic and solar radiation, meteorites, wild temperature swings, and even impact ejecta. The idea is to build a base inside a lunar lava tube, where astronauts gain additional protection from the thick rock ceiling overhead. China is considering the idea now and planning a robotic system that can explore caves. China’s future plan, after successful exploration, is a crewed base. It would be a long-term underground research base in one of the lunar lava tubes, with a support center for energy and communication at the tube’s entrance. The terrain would be landscaped, and the base would include both residential and research facilities inside the tube.” (Universe Today)