This is awesome...

[What's_nitro?]

In ~30 years, a few of these could be powering our country.



https://lasers.llnl.gov/missions/ene...life_works.php

(It's also in the latest issue of PopSci)

Personally, I can't wait. It's such an amazing technology, and not just because of the energy it can produce but, because it uses the waste from our current power plants to do it!

[crazyjr]

It's a cool design and a great idea, but the fact that the engine is done after it uses the fuel it's given is a possible sore spot. I think it will boil down to how much an engine will cost and how long it will last, If it will last for 30-50 years, it might be viable. It is a novel way to use, reuse or lower our already used nuclear energy stockpile of spent fuel

[Mentat]

goverments and big energy conglomerations will not let it happen until its too late. TRUTH

[simplechamp]

Originally Posted by Mentat

goverments and big energy conglomerations will not let it happen until its too late. TRUTH

The man is just trying to keep us down. Also, 9/11 was an inside job.

[What's_nitro?]

Originally Posted by crazyjr

It's a cool design and a great idea, but the fact that the engine is done after it uses the fuel it's given is a possible sore spot. I think it will boil down to how much an engine will cost and how long it will last, If it will last for 30-50 years, it might be viable. It is a novel way to use, reuse or lower our already used nuclear energy stockpile of spent fuel

It is estimated to last for decades on it's initial 40MT of fuel. Probably due to the 99% efficiency of the nuclear reactions. The article goes on to say that the waste from these reactors only requires 5% of the storage space it did before. And I would bet by the time these reactors finish burning their fuel we'll have found a use for that, too.