*THIS ENTRY IS BY CHRIS WAGGOTT* Fusion power – future design playground?

*DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES THIS ENTRY HAS BEEN POSTED ON BEHALF OF CHRIS WAGGOTT*



I recently watched a horizon episode on BBC2 about the research into fusion power as a future source of energy, completely eradicating our reliance on fossil fuels and renewable sources that cant keep up with demand.

“Nuclear fusion is nature's power source. From the Sun to the most distant stars, the energy that lights up the Universe is released by sticking hydrogen nuclei together to make helium.

Since hydrogen is the most abundant element in the Universe, it seems sensible to ask whether we might Endeavour to do the same and power ourselves out of our serious energy crisis by building stars on Earth.” Prof Brian Cox 2009

Throughout the program Prof Brian Cox mentions many times that we need to be seriously thinking about fusion power as a reality now, rather than thinking of it as some far future technology, and this is where I started thinking. With such a change in the way that we produce our energy there will be all the systems, practices, products, services and sub-technologies that will need to come about, all fertile ground for the designer.

Link to the episode.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00hr6bk/Horizon_20082009_Can_We_Make_a_Star_on_Earth/

Christopher Waggott