Hello Science Fans looking to fuse and not to fuse…
There was a major story in science this week that you have probably heard about. For the last 60 years it has been 20 years away. I have been struggling with how to write about it or what to say. There have been so many statements and explanations that I think missed some of the key points I was getting frustrated. One of the worst was hearing a reporter on a national news network saying something to the effect of ‘fusion is what makes the stars twinkle’, I was speechless. I was saved by Desiré Whitmore, PhD, explO Physicist Educator, aka Laserchick! (One of many reasons why I love and support the explO!) With her permission I am sharing the email she sent to staff explaining what all the hubbub is about.
Here’s the complete email, which made my job a lot easier this week!
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tl;dr version: I don't know if you heard the official announcement yesterday, but the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has finally achieved a nuclear fusion reaction that produced more energy than it used!! Nuclear fusion is when you combine two or more atoms together to fuse into a larger one (like the crystal gems!). This process generates a HUGE amount of energy, mostly as heat. If we can capture and harness that energy, we will be able to create carbon-free energy and power our planet in a much more sustainable way.
if you're still here:
This is a huge deal, and I am super excited because it means that not only are we on our way towards generating clean energy, but we are closer to understanding the fusion processes that power stars, like our Sun! While this is a big breakthrough, we still have quite a ways to go to achieve clean energy, or even break even on all the energy that goes into powering the NIF. That said, this is a monumental achievement.
This experiment works by creating a fuel out of different isotopes of hydrogen and igniting that fuel with 192 LASERs in a giant chamber! Here is a photo of the chamber while they were installing it last century (1997). Each of those circles is a place where either a LASER or a detector can penetrate the chamber.
The container that holds the fuel is super tiny, the size of a peppercorn, and is held by a giant arm inside of this chamber. Here is a pic of the inside of the chamber, with the fuel at the tip of the arm. You can see the technicians in bunny suits for scale.
This is not the most energy ever created through fusion--that goes to the UK Atomic Energy Authority's Joint European Torus in Oxford which uses giant magnets instead of LASERs, and generated 59 MJ earlier this year. But this is the highest ratio of energy generated to energy used through nuclear fusion--we produced 50% more energy than we put in, at 3 MJ. Now, this is only measuring the LASER power itself. LASERs actually require a TON of energy themselves to power (300X more than what we got out), and we have a lot of work to go before we break even there. Here is an infographic demonstrating the energy in and out in this reaction (fun fact: hohlraum is the container that they hold the fuel in, and when I was working there, they were considering using spider silk!).
And just for fun, here is a pic of 1/4th of the LASERs tubes at NIF, the entire facility is as big as 3 American football fields! Again, workers are there for scale.
Thanks for reading along if you are still here. As you can tell, I am pretty excited about this announcement. If you ever want to chat more about this discovery or the NIF, where I got to work in the summer of 2017 to train their LASER technicians, feel free to come find me or reach out.
Have a groovy week,
Desiré
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Desiré Whitmore, PhD | Staff Physicist Educator, Laserchick | Preferred Pronouns: she/her | 415.528.4642 | Learning Toolbox | Laserchick.net
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Desiré’s images can be found at the NIF photo-gallery and NIF surpasses long-awaited fusion milestone.
There isn’t much on the calendar for the next couple of weeks. There are still a few options worth your attention though.
After Dark: See for Yourself is on Thursday, and there are 3 cool options on christmas eve!
You might want to consider something different… Join with other science aficionados and skeptoids for free-ranging discussions at a virtual Skeptics in the Pub Wed 12.28
Of course there are new discoveries and discussions of old ones on the web, check some of them out…
Conversations about famed scientists who held troubling views on race should center not on cancellation but on progress. Checkout the whole series of articles at The Persistence of Race Science
Don’t assume that the drought is over because of some wonderful rain. We still need more alternatives to using water that nature needs. How about the fresh water that exists as vapor above oceans.
I’ve never been a big fan of fireworks. Now I have a reason!!! New Year’s fireworks can give migratory birds a surprisingly long hangover
You can find STEM absolutely anywhere, even during the Christmas school holidays
It was 1.4 million miles! Coming to your neighborhood this week!
Here’s one more take on fusion.
This is the slowest time of year for informal science learning options that we have to list. The next edition of the SciSchmooze is due on christmas day. So we have decided to let Bob take a well deserved break as the foundation and backbone of the SciSchmooze.
Have a great set of holidays but don’t stop supporting science and rational thinking.
herb masters
What about fusion?
Upcoming Events:
Click to see the next two weeks of events in your browser.
Monday, 12/19/2022
Tuesday, 12/20/2022
Mycological Mexico - Oaxaca Diversity and Ethnomycology - Livestream - 12/20/2022 07:00 PM
Mycological Society of San Francisco
It has been estimated that indigenous Mexicans consume about 300 species of edible mushrooms country-wide throughout its eight climate regions, one of the most climate diverse countries in the world. All of Mexico’s climates are found in the Southern State of Oaxaca.
Despite its inclusion geographically in North America, the country of Mexico is quite foreign when compared to the US and Canada in its attitudes toward mushrooms and mushroom foraging. The difference, even more pronounced in Oaxaca, is more than just a language barrier, though that plays a significant role: despite Spanish being the dominant language, there are more than 15 official languages and dozens of dialects spoken throughout this state alone.
More than half of the political regions in Oaxaca are self-governed autonomous democracies. This governance naturally extends into a sustenance-based relationship to the land itself - land that has been continuously occupied in some places by the same people for over 12,000 years. There are no mushrooms picking permits: nothing can be removed from the land - nor even access granted - without express permission of the community.
In this presentation, Chef Zachary Mazi attempts to tackle the barriers in understanding this delicate relationship, and discuss the intricate web of food-life-forest-community that underlies the unique management of these diverse and incredible ethnomycological regions whose wisdom holds so much potential for learning for the rest of North America.
Thursday, 12/22/2022
After Dark: See for Yourself - 12/22/2022 06:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco
The Exploratorium is your playground after dark! Wander the galleries, sip a cocktail, and let a DJ from Hip Hop for Change set the vibe. Ever wonder what you’re really made of? Check out Cells to Self in the Moore Gallery 4 Corridor. You’ll find art and exhibits that explore the wondrous variety of human cells and the amazing things they’re doing in your body.
Cell Phone Miniscope 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. Crossroads
We invite you to open your eyes to the amazing world of the ultra-tiny! Be sure to grab a miniscope kit and directions - then convert your cell phone into a portable, picture-taking miniscope using a simple plastic lens from a laser pointer. Use it to see the Exploratorium at its smallest scale, then take it home to continue exploring new environments!
DJ Dion Decibels From Hip Hop for Change 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Bechtel Gallery 3
Get ready to dance your way through the night as DJ Dion Decibels from Hip Hop for Change sets the vibe and keeps the party moving! Dion Decibels is a San Francisco native who was born into music. He discovered turntables in 2001 and fell in love with the ability they gave him to shape, transform, and extend his favorite songs. He has since become a major force in the Bay Area music scene as a DJ, sound engineer, and producer.
Saturday, 12/24/2022
Drop-in at Palo Alto Baylands - 12/24/2022 09:00 AM
Palo Alto Duck Pond Palo Alto
Drop-in anytime between 9 am and 11 am to bird with us! SCVAS volunteers will be stationed at Palo Alto Baylands on the north side of the duck pond with binoculars and scopes to help you identify the huge variety of shorebirds and ducks that call the Bay Area home. No RSVP required.
Christmas Eve King Tides walk on Berkeley waterfront - 12/24/2022 10:30 AM
Seabreeze Deli Berkeley
F5C President Susan Schwartzleads a smallish group (15 tops) in a leisurely stroll along the Berkeley waterfront at Sea Breeze Deli. We'll talk about the history and future of the Berkeley waterfront, including ways to deal with changes due to expected sea-level rise. Binoculars and cameras welcome as we observe wintering wildlife and how the waterfront is changing. Walk is rain or shine!
Register at weblink.
Fort Point Candlelight Tour - 12/24/2022 06:30 PM
Fort Point San Francisco
The Candlelight Tour of Fort Point is a popular guided program that allows visitors to experience the fort in a new light. This evening tour will maze through the shadows of the historic structure by candlelight and visitors will see the glimmering lights of the Golden Gate Bridge towering up above them. Upon arrival, a park ranger will check-in guests and provide visitors with a lantern. A ranger will lead this 90-minute excursion and interpret the history and the life that once existed within the old brick walls of Fort Point.
The Candlelight Tour explores all four level of the fort including the roof (approximately 76 steps). Visitors will be invited to engage in dialogue as they learn about the fascinating and sometimes complex history of the fort, its role in San Francisco history, and its cultural relevance today. Recommended age for this tour is 12 years and up.
Visitors with reservations will begin their tour when the fort is otherwise inaccessible to the public.
Thursday, 12/29/2022
After Dark: See for Yourself - 12/29/2022 06:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco
Saturday, 12/31/2022
Fort Point Candlelight Tour - 12/31/2022 06:30 PM
Fort Point San Francisco