Limits to Growth

[Keba]

Fusion reactors aren't dangerous for the radiation factor, the radiation is relativly low and the most radioactive parts will be the reactor walls after years of use. The problematic stuff is that the plasma will instantly vaporize anything that it'll come in contact with, until it has cooled down.

Actually, that is exactly how a nuke works. A nuke is simply a fusion reaction unleashed by use of an atomic detonation. Essentially, you strap an A-bomb on a nuke so it can start the chain reaction, which then immediately gets out of control. The residual radiation is from the detonator.

So, we've got the fusion thing down, now only to figure out how to control it properly to prevent ourselves blowing chunks out of the planet every now and then.

[Ironside]

Actually, that is exactly how a nuke works. A nuke is simply a fusion reaction unleashed by use of an atomic detonation. Essentially, you strap an A-bomb on a nuke so it can start the chain reaction, which then immediately gets out of control. The residual radiation is from the detonator.

So, we've got the fusion thing down, now only to figure out how to control it properly to prevent ourselves blowing chunks out of the planet every now and then.

Someone stupid enough to plant the amount of D-T hydrogen needed to get a nuclear blast into the reactor (or very close to it) deserves to die in the blast. I mean expecting to control an energy output of more than 4.184*10^15 watts? Or even 4.2*10^12 watts? 3,5 plants of that size could run the world. ITER is etimated to run with 5*10^8 watts and comercial plants afterwards is planned to run with about 4*10^9 watts, 1000 that's times less energy output.

The A-bomb is only there for the temperature anyway.

[Franconicus]

I had some lessons about plasma physics some time ago. The fusion is not like a Hiroshima type bomb, it is like a hydrogenbomb. There you have a conventional N-bomb to start the hydrogen reaction.

Cold fusion could supply enough energy and it will be safer and cleaner than the old nuclear plants. However, cold fusion technology is still 20 years from feasibility, and that since 100 years. The more you learn, the more hurdles are found.

[Don Corleone]

The simple basic rule of civilization is that mankind never does anything until we have to. Put in another, more familiar way, necesity really is the mother of invention. Every great paradigm shifting technology has created its own problems which in turn require solution.