CNN has just published a feature article by Thom Patterson about current research in the area of nuclear fusion in the “Powering the Planet” section of its web site. The article discusses some of the researchers and projects that are trying to find a way to create a new form of abundant clean energy.
Some key points from the article:
- Michel Lebarge of General Fusion in Vancouver, Canada is leading a team of 50 researchers to find a way to fuse atoms using a “jackhammer” technique that uses giant shockwaves to slam atoms together. He’s received $32.5 million of funding so far.
- ITER is a multinational nuclear fusion project under construction in Italy with funding of $20 billion.
- The National Ignition Facility at California’s Lawrence Livermore Laboratory is investing $5 billion to try and create fusion using massive lasers.
- China is training 2,000 researchers in the area of nuclear fusion in an attempt to achieve success in the field.
Curiously there is no mention in the article of Andrea Rossi’s energy catalyzer which by all accounts is at a very mature stage of development and appears ready to be launched commercially. It certainly is relevant in a survey of fusion research — perhaps Thom Patterson is not familiar with Rossi’s work, or maybe he does not consider it credible enough to mention alongside the other projects in the article. I noticed that Rossi comes up in the comments below the article.
Whatever the case, it’s another example of how the mainstream media is giving little attention to what in the opinion of many now is a technology worthy of a great deal of coverage because of the potential impact it can have. I think it’s just a matter of time before that changes, but it’s puzzling nevertheless.
