The papers show “this high-field path still looks viable,” Dr. Greenwald said. “If we can overcome the engineering challenges, this machine will perform as we predict.”
So, they are exactly where we have been for the last 50 years in fusion research. "Hmm, this looks like it could work if only we could solve these pesky engineering problems!"
Those "engineering problems" are the entire point. We have been able to make uncontrolled fusion blasts for decades. Keeping it bottled up so we can produce power has always been the sticking point. These guys are using some newer magnet tech, and hey, maybe that is the magic bullet to finally get this thing working well enough to cobble together a working proof-of-concept, but AFAICT this is pure vapourware.
That said, I really hope that fusion can be made to work. Plentiful cheap energy fuelled by water that can be built anywhere could save the world.
So, they are exactly where we have been for the last 50 years in fusion research. "Hmm, this looks like it could work if only we could solve these pesky engineering problems!"
Those "engineering problems" are the entire point. We have been able to make uncontrolled fusion blasts for decades. Keeping it bottled up so we can produce power has always been the sticking point. These guys are using some newer magnet tech, and hey, maybe that is the magic bullet to finally get this thing working well enough to cobble together a working proof-of-concept, but AFAICT this is pure vapourware.
That said, I really hope that fusion can be made to work. Plentiful cheap energy fuelled by water that can be built anywhere could save the world.
damn it was a cool pipe dream