Search found 37 matches

by derg
Mon Jun 08, 2015 8:08 am
Forum: News
Topic: Latest update from Alan Boyle
Replies: 13
Views: 12840

Re: Latest update from Alan Boyle

10 years ago fusion was 20 years away. We seem to be getting closer with the recent surge in small innovative concepts. We are so now 19 years away... But seriously, it has always been premature to talk with sensationalism about saving the world with fusion...the sober reality is that fusion is at ...
by derg
Tue Feb 17, 2015 8:17 pm
Forum: News
Topic: NASA returning to NERVA?
Replies: 44
Views: 32465

Re: NASA returning to NERVA?

Skipjack wrote:Also want to point out that subsequent projects to NERVA demonstrated much higher T/W than 1, high enough to SSTO.
Wasn't this contingent on ISPs of 1600 or more?
by derg
Sat Dec 13, 2014 7:17 am
Forum: Fund-Raising
Topic: Seeking assistance with a plan for well-funded polywell R&D
Replies: 32
Views: 45075

Re: Seeking assistance with a plan for well-funded polywell

I agree with MSimon- in engineering in particular there is no direct correlation between credentials and ability. Naturally those who've spent lots of time and money in schools will tend to be credentialist.
by derg
Sat Jul 05, 2014 7:27 am
Forum: News
Topic: Dr. Park to speak at UW-Madison
Replies: 137
Views: 87551

Re: Dr. Park to speak at UW-Madison

I meant in strictly economic terms. Even if it turns out a success, it will take 20 years to integrate the polywell into the grid and see a significant return. Besides, I'm not sure energy efficiency is even a profitable solution, despite the benefits to civilization and the environment (if that wer...
by derg
Sat Jul 05, 2014 5:40 am
Forum: News
Topic: Dr. Park to speak at UW-Madison
Replies: 137
Views: 87551

Re: Dr. Park to speak at UW-Madison

I wish it were otherwise, but an NBA team is a better investment than Polywell fusion.
by derg
Thu Jul 03, 2014 6:17 am
Forum: News
Topic: Taiwanese student under investigation for operating a fusor
Replies: 3
Views: 4119

Re: Taiwanese student under investigation for operating a fu

For $435? Is that even possible?
by derg
Fri Sep 10, 2010 5:46 pm
Forum: General
Topic: The Next Generation of Human Spaceflight
Replies: 276
Views: 77437

Am I right in assuming that any non-nuclear feuls can be ruled out for true SSTO (Mach 27?)
by derg
Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:34 pm
Forum: News
Topic: emc2's website
Replies: 232
Views: 151167

Net energy! A new era has dawned! Suddenly the sky goes dark with vultures...
by derg
Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:02 pm
Forum: General
Topic: SpaceX Launch Successfully Delivers Satellite Into Orbit
Replies: 21
Views: 8091

Couldn't they use chemical rockets to get to a safe distance before firing the nukes?
by derg
Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:05 pm
Forum: News
Topic: Any love for Polywell from Obama?
Replies: 65
Views: 31561

Just throw half the budget at the NSF and keep the grants coming and everything will more or less work out for the better, an excess of scientists is better for a society than an excess of bankers and investors. Agreed. Bankers and investors historically leech more of society and civilization than ...
by derg
Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:58 pm
Forum: Fund-Raising
Topic: Google Ventures
Replies: 6
Views: 13025

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that it will take between $100 million and $200 million to build a reactor that will determine whether Polywell will yield net energy. If you ask the more knowledgeable folk here 'Will it?', their answer would be 'Um...well...' and then...
by derg
Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:55 am
Forum: General
Topic: WB-100 designs are being evaluated?
Replies: 69
Views: 29530

You're missing his point. It's not about buying a new Mercedes. Money is one of the few commonly accepted ways to measure proficiency (like it or not). Without the money factor it's much more difficult to assess competency. It is also necessary in matters of complex engineering in that it allows for...
by derg
Wed Feb 25, 2009 1:53 am
Forum: News
Topic: Google Polywell Fusion Counter
Replies: 207
Views: 96539

Interest is growing. It's still hard to say whether this is going to end somewhere commercially useful (and propenents should be careful about their claims), but Rick has apparently found some very promising confinement data and the research is increasingly visible. People- potential investors- who...
by derg
Sat Feb 14, 2009 6:55 am
Forum: General
Topic: Hobbies other than polywell?
Replies: 46
Views: 26541

computer programing is closely related to complex physics and engineering.

All three of those disciplines are related to the arts, believe it or not. Sci-Fi- the stuff that is worth reading/ watching is interdependent on modern science and engineering. Indeed- it was never otherwise...
by derg
Sat Jan 24, 2009 3:50 am
Forum: General
Topic: NASA Awards Space Station Resupply Services Contracts
Replies: 11
Views: 5340

Thanks IntLibber and Msimon for the input.

Cape Breton remains a mighty fine spaceport.,