this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2025
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Science Memes

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[–] socsa@piefed.social 100 points 9 hours ago (6 children)

One of the fusion startups says they can use the plasma B field directly. Basically making the plasma the rotor in an electric generator to induce current in a wire.

[–] pennomi@lemmy.world 51 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

I really like this concept, wonder how viable it really is though.

[–] theneverfox@pawb.social 36 points 8 hours ago (3 children)

It seems promising, they're acting like they're close. They've been promising concrete deliverables, I think they're supposed to have a working model that can actually capture the energy next year

You never know, but they're called Triton if you want to check them out. They don't share progress often, but when they do it seems pretty candid about their progress

[–] Lemminary@lemmy.world 15 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Please don't let it be another Theranos, please don't let it be another Theranos 🙏

[–] theneverfox@pawb.social 5 points 6 hours ago

It's not. Maybe they'll fail, maybe it can't math out, but it's not vaporware

[–] redsand@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 6 hours ago

I've been watching these guys for a while. They have a real shot at getting something on the grid before ITER is even fully operational.

[–] saltesc@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago

I'm guessing something like most of the magnets contain the plasma, but some transfer energy off it?

[–] finitebanjo@piefed.world 8 points 7 hours ago (2 children)

This plasma. Does it contain any water vapor?

[–] Fuck_u_spez_@sh.itjust.works 11 points 7 hours ago (2 children)

It's boiling water all the way down.

Seriously though, it's over 100,000,000° so probably not.

[–] TonyTonyChopper@mander.xyz 5 points 7 hours ago

Water decomposes above 3000 C

[–] humanspiral@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 hours ago

First, fusion has 0 theoretical economic potential, but there is some potential for energy gains from 2250^^ + steam. Water deconstructs above this temperature into powerful HHO gas, that when ignited gains another 2500^^ that will chain react with higher pressure steam to make the steam even hotter/higher pressure. Minor problem of melting all known turbine material, is avoidable through just higher volume of pressured steam.

[–] Stowaway@midwest.social 6 points 7 hours ago

The one im aware of uses deuterium, aka hydrogen2, to generate helium 3. One of the byproducts being tritium, aka hydrogen3. This means there's potential for 2 deuteriums to mix with an oxygen molecule,this creating ²H2O, aka heavy water.

I'm neither a chemist, nor physicist. So someone could probably prove me wrong at the drop of a hat, but Im calling it close enough.:p

[–] OrganicMustard@lemmy.world 4 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Which one? My first impression is that ignoring all the energy in neutrons should be pretty inefficient

[–] Bronzebeard@lemmy.zip 1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)
[–] lime@feddit.nu 1 points 6 hours ago

the only things i've been seeing from those guys recently are investor pitches...

[–] phcorcoran@piefed.ca 1 points 2 hours ago

There's a great video by Improbable Matter on YouTube breaking down the issues with helion , well worth a watch https://youtube.com/watch?v=3vUPhsFoniw

[–] markhepburn@programming.dev 1 points 4 hours ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_CFCyc2Shs I don't listen to Lex much these days, but that was a fun discussion.