Alaska Chat II

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by ASpilot2be

Makes sense to me.

Huzzah!

Thanks...

[Barkingowl]

Why not just use solar panels?

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by Barkingowl

Why not just use solar panels?

Because fusion power is much, much, more electricity and it works even in areas without direct sunlight.

[Barkingowl]

Originally Posted by Xa'at

Because fusion power is much, much, more electricity and it works even in areas without direct sunlight.

I thought it didn't work at all at the moment.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by Barkingowl

I thought it didn't work at all at the moment.

Actually, it does. We just haven't gotten to the point where it's economical to produce it. My paper is about the feasibility of fusion power as an energy source in the near future.

[Barkingowl]

So is it feasible?

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by Barkingowl

Xa'at when you reappear can you send Cobolt a DM with the state archivist application?

Wait...wait...Did I miss something here?

[Barkingowl]

They're looking for a new state archivist in Juneau. As far as I know the position hasn't been filled yet. I think it started around $70k.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by Barkingowl

So is it feasible?

It is, if we are willing to put the money into the research that will lead to it becoming economically sound.

The nice thing about fusion is we're not producing these horribly radioactive compounds that take millions of years to become safe. The only by-products are helium-4, which is stable and already makes up about 99% of all naturally occurring helium, and a neutron. Instead of having to mine uranium, which will eventually run out, we can use deuterium and tritium, both of which can be produced in the laboratory. A nuclear meltdown, which is basically what happens in fission reactors when these heavy and unstable atoms start doing stuff that is unpredictable resulting in a runaway nuclear reaction, is physically impossible with lighter elements like helium and hydrogen because they can only split apart so much. They also can't spontaneously fuse like fission material can spontaneously fissure because it requires so much energy to start the fusion reaction.

Tritium is unstable, so the only downside would be that we have to take precautions to keep it from getting released into the atmosphere in large concentrations. However, when you compare this tiny downside to all the potential upsides, it's clear that fusion is the right way to go.

[karfar]

Good god, I'm gone for not even 24 hours & I have no idea what's going on! Xa'at, you mentioned about not talking about hot boys anymore....let's talk about the crazy mess that is Juliette Lewis, who everyone I come in contact with insists I look like....waitresses say it, the drive-thru person at Taco Bell, strangers on the street. Too bad I don't look as fabulous in spandex as she does