Let’s give a warm Focus Fusion welcome to the new Fusion Energy League!

Reprinted from the LPPX October 17, 2011 Report.

An article in the September issue of Physics Today highlights the continuing erosion of the US fusion program.  (”The US narrows fusion research focus, joins German Stellarator.)

On September 9, 2011, the full Senate Committee on Appropriations approved its version of the FY12 Energy and Water Development funding bill.

Thanks Zach Weiner for another cool pro-fusion cartoon!

The Focus Fusion Society encourages members to develop, license and market Focus Fusion-Themed Consumer Products (FFTCP’s). 

aka “The Fracking Song”

More reasons to fund fusion.

A big Thank You to Sascha Becher aka Stereotron for producing this stereoscopic 3D poster of the electrodes of the Dense Plasma Focus. 

Please feel free to download and print copies of this poster for your pro-fusion events. Also, feel free to design more posters, collages, fine art, mixed media extravaganzas.  As we did with Stereotron, we are happy to supply you with the full sized raw images for manipulation. 

Update as of March 13:  Nuclear situation worsens.  Full blown disaster. Fund fusion!

A devastating 8.8 earthquake has struck Japan unleashing terrible tsunamis and untold damage.  Our prayers go out to those struggling with the aftermath.

First Aid

Before we continue, take a moment to support Red Cross relief efforts.  Text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10; the charge is automatically added to your phone bill.  Or donate online at http://www.redcross.org

Is someone you know missing?  Google Crisis Response can help.  It has information on the crisis with real time updates and a “Person Finder” (Embedded here in the left column).

The Department of Energy FY12 Budget Requests $3Billion more than the previous budget. 

The good news is, it asks for reductions in subsidies for oil, coal and gas ($3.6 Billion).  It also asks for an increase in Renewable Energy funding of $1Billion. 

The bad news?  Fusion, of course.  It’s listed under “Science” on slide # 24, and it gets cut by $18Million - coincidentally that’s roughly the amount allocated for “innovative concepts.”

The worst news:  This could all be moot as a fiscally conservative congress seeks to cut everything.

The American Security Project released a new white paper titled “Fusion Energy: An Opportunity for American Leadership and Security” (pdf file) explaining the potential significant gains of American investment in fusion energy.  It recommends a total government investment of $35 billion over a period of 15 years.

Just watched “Top 5 Things I love about the WEBB telescope.” 

I think I’m in love.

For those of us struggling to build the bridge to fusion, Neil deGrasse Tyson has some pointers. 

In his appearance on the Daily Show on Tuesday, he said that explorers on the frontier of science sometimes need to make stuff up to advance research. 

He wasn’t advocating faking science.  And after watching the special, it’s also clear he wasn’t advocating painting a rosy picture.  The “made up stuff” on the show includes a relentless visualization of all the things that can go wrong in space.  How can we apply this to the fusion endeavor?