“ Scientists in California shooting nearly 200 lasers at a cylinder holding a fuel capsule the size of a peppercorn have taken another step in the quest for fusion energy, which, if mastered, could provide the world with a near-limitless source of clean power. Last year on a December morning, scientists at the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California (LLNL) managed, in a world first, to produce a nuclear fusion reaction that released more energy than it used, in a process called “ignition.” Now they say they have successfully replicated ignition at least three times this year, according to a December report from the LLNL. This marks another significant step in what could one day be an important solution to the global climate crisis, driven primarily by the burning of fossil fuels. For decades, scientists have attempted to harness fusion energy, essentially recreating the power of the sun on Earth.
After making their historic net energy gain last year, the next important step was to prove the process could be replicated.
Brian Appelbe, a research fellow from the Centre for Inertial Fusion Studies at Imperial College London, said the ability to replicate demonstrates the “robustness” of the process, showing it can be achieved even when conditions such as the laser or fuel pellet are varied.
Each experiment also offers an opportunity to study the physics of ignition in detail, Appelbe told CNN. “This provides valuable information to the scientists in addressing the next challenge to be overcome: how to maximize the energy that can be obtained.”
Unlike nuclear fission — the process used in the world’s nuclear plants today, which is generated by the division of atoms — nuclear fusion leaves no legacy of long-lived radioactive waste. As the climate crisis accelerates, and the urgency of ditching planet-heating fossil fuels increases, the prospect of an abundant source of safe, clean energy is tantalizing. Nuclear fusion, the reaction that powers the sun and other stars, involves smashing two or more atoms together to form a denser one, in a process that releases huge amounts of energy.
There are different ways of creating energy from fusion, but at NIF, scientists fire an array of nearly 200 lasers at a pellet of hydrogen fuel inside a diamond capsule the size of a peppercorn, itself inside a gold cylinder. The lasers heat up the cylinder’s outside, creating a series of very fast explosions, generating large amounts of energy collected as heat.
The energy produced in December 2022 was small — it took around 2 megajoules to power the reaction, which released a total of 3.15 megajoules, enough to boil around 10 kettles of water. But it was sufficient to make it a successful ignition and to prove that laser fusion could create energy.
Since then, the scientists have done it several more times. On July 30, the NIF laser delivered a little over 2 megajoules to the target, which resulted in 3.88 megajoules of energy — their highest yield achieved to date, according to the report. Two subsequent experiments in October also delivered net gains. “These results demonstrated NIF’s ability to consistently produce fusion energy at multi-megajoule levels,” the report said.
There is still a very long way to go, however, until nuclear fusion reaches the scale needed to power electric grids and heating systems. The focus now is on building on the progress made and figuring out how to dramatically scale up fusion projects and significantly bring down costs.
At the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, US climate envoy John Kerry launched an international engagement plan involving more than 30 countries with the aim of boosting nuclear fusion to help tackle the climate crisis.
“There is potential in fusion to revolutionize our world, and to change all of the options that are in front of us, and provide the world with abundant and clean energy without the harmful emissions of traditional energy sources,” Kerry told the climate gathering. In December, the US Department of Energy announced a $42 million investment in a program bringing together multiple institutions, including LLNL, to establish “hubs” focused on advancing fusion. “Harnessing fusion energy is one of the greatest scientific and technological challenges of the 21st Century,” said US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm in a statement. “We now have the confidence that it’s not only possible, but probable, that fusion energy can be a reality.”
Ella Nilsen and René Marsh contributed to reporting
An Illinois judge who sparked outrage by reversing a man’s rape conviction involving a 16-year-old girl has been removed from the bench after a judicial oversight body found he circumvented the law and engaged in misconduct.
The idea of a Christian America means different things to different people. Pollsters have found a wide circle of Americans who hold general God-and-country sentiments....
They LITERALLY WROTE DOWN that they did not want this. WTAF?
The Establishment Clause: Found in the First Amendment, it states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” This clause prohibits the federal government from establishing a state religion or favoring one religion over another. It has been interpreted to mean that there should be a separation of church and state, preventing the government from promoting or endorsing religious beliefs or practices. 2. The Free Exercise Clause: Also in the First Amendment, this clause says, “or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This means that the government cannot pass laws that target specific religious practices or beliefs and cannot hinder individuals from practicing their religion freely.
Over the past three years, dairy farmers Keith Schaefer and his daughter Megan Hill stole at least $3 million from hundreds of their workers across central Minnesota, according to a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Keith Ellison earlier this month....
“I’m aspirationally Jewish,” Musk said. “So I was like, ‘What are people talking about with this antisemitism?’ Because I never hear it at dinner conversations."...
A member of Israel’s war cabinet has said the country will launch its threatened ground offensive against Rafah, the last place of relative safety in Gaza, if Hamas does not release its remaining Israeli hostages by the beginning of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan in just under three weeks....
Michelle Griffith, Chicago-based senior wealth adviser at Citi Personal Wealth Management, said it’s concerning. Many consumers she’s talked to don’t have hope that they can achieve the American dream. “There will be a time when inflation and prices will continue to go down. The Fed is already talking about that. You see that on the horizon now,” Griffith said. “What I want [consumers] to recognize is inflation is cyclical. It doesn’t stay the same, and doom spenders have to keep that in mind.”
Hey Michelle, the price gouging won’t go away on its own, and it’s not cyclical. Hate to break it to you. Also the Fed are a bunch of jackasses, with extremely limited tools.
Clearly he is awful and should die in a fire, however I have reached my limit on news stories about how these modern ‘generations’ are affected differently than other ‘generations.’ It’s a bullshit classification that does not exist in real life and I am tired of hearing manufactured news stories about it. People are people, and we need to all try to get along and help each other. No one is ever thinking about what generation someone else might be part of.
OK, so, I attempted to bring some clarity to this discussion that seems like it’s all over the place in terms of methodology and difficulty. Here is a breakdown as well as some instructions that should hopefully help OP out.
Running VPN on Router (suggested by ruplicant):
Veracity: Valid. Running a VPN on the router secures all devices on the network.
Complexity: High for a beginner. Requires a compatible router and understanding of router firmware.
Suitability for Beginners: Not ideal due to the technical complexity.
Setting Up Media Server on Raspberry Pi (suggested by ruplicant):
Veracity: Valid. Raspberry Pi can effectively run media servers like Plex or Jellyfin.
Complexity: Moderate. It requires some technical know-how for setup and maintenance.
Suitability for Beginners: Moderate. Good for those with some technical background.
Standard Computer Setup with Torrent Client and VLC (suggested by send_me_your_ink):
Veracity: Valid. This is a common method for downloading and viewing content.
Complexity: Low. Easy to set up and use.
Suitability for Beginners: High. Straightforward and less technically demanding.
Using Plex Over Jellyfin (suggested by Reverendender):
Veracity: Subjective. Both are valid, but Plex is often seen as more user-friendly.
Complexity: Low for Plex, moderate for Jellyfin.
Suitability for Beginners: Plex is more suitable due to its ease of use.
Based on this analysis, for a beginner user, the most straightforward and effective approach would be to use a standard computer setup with a VPN, a torrent client, and VLC media player for streaming. This setup minimizes technical complexity while providing a good balance of privacy and ease of use.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Beginners:
1. Set Up a VPN on Your Computer:
Choose a reputable VPN service (like Mullvad or ProtonVPN).
Download and install the VPN software on your computer.
Follow the software’s instructions to connect to a VPN server.
2. Install a Torrent Client:
Download a user-friendly torrent client (e.g., qBittorrent, uTorrent).
Install the torrent client on your computer.
Configure the settings for privacy (like enabling a kill switch, if available).
3. Download and Install VLC Media Player:
Download VLC from its official website.
Install VLC, following the setup wizard.
4. Download Content:
Use the torrent client to find and download content.
Ensure your VPN is active whenever you are downloading.
5. Stream Content to Your TV:
If your TV supports casting (like with Chromecast), use VLC’s streaming feature to cast content to your TV.
Alternatively, connect your computer to the TV via HDMI for direct playback.
6. Practice Good Security Habits:
Always keep your VPN active when downloading or streaming content.
Regularly update your software (VPN, torrent client, VLC) for security.
The group is chaired by John Hannah, who served as deputy national security advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney from 2001 to 2005 and then as Cheney’s national security advisor (2005-2009), replacing Lewis “Scooter” Libby, who resigned his position after being indicted for perjury. Libby, who was later given a full pardon by former President Donald Trump, is also a member of the Gaza task force.
Another prominent member of the task force is the founder and chairman of the hawkish Vandenberg Coalition, Elliott Abrams, who served as the senior director for Near East and North African Affairs in the National Security Council under Bush from 2002 to 2009 and more recently as the Special Envoy for Venezuela and Iran under Trump. Ironically, Abrams, who also served as the NSC’s Senior Director for Democracy under Bush, played a key role in supporting an attempted armed coup by Hamas’s chief rival, Fatah, in 2007 after Hamas swept the 2006 Palestinian elections. The coup attempt sparked a brief but bloody civil war in Gaza, which eventually resulted in Hamas’ consolidation of power in the Strip.
.Eric Edelman (ret.), a fourth member of the task force, served as Cheney’s principal deputy national security adviser from 2001 to 2003 and then as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, the number three position at the Pentagon, under Rumsfeld and his successor, Robert Gates, from 2005 to 2009, as U.S. troops struggled to contain the mainly Sunni resistance to the U.S. occupation in Iraq.
I assume their first choice was the preserved head of Henry Kissinger in a jar, but he was busy.
This article makes me want to vomit. All these companies and CEOs talking about inflation like it’s this intangible phantom that nobody can get a grasp on.
“If one looks at inflation over time, we very rarely get into periods of sustained deflation. That’s just not a consumer effect,” Coke CEO James Quincey said Feb. 13."
It’s the companies and CEOs price gouging. Call a spade a spade for Christ’s sake.
Scientists successfully replicate historic nuclear fusion breakthrough three times (www.cnn.com)
Illinois judge who reversed rape conviction removed from bench after panel finds he circumvented law (apnews.com)
An Illinois judge who sparked outrage by reversing a man’s rape conviction involving a 16-year-old girl has been removed from the bench after a judicial oversight body found he circumvented the law and engaged in misconduct.
Indiana Launches Anti-LGBTQ "Snitch Line," Users Flood With Memes In Protest (www.erininthemorning.com)
Another One Of Trump’s Attorneys Seemingly Admitted (Twice) That His Client Committed A Crime (uproxx.com)
Attorney Explains 'Most Significant' Fact of Trump Lawyers' Guilty Pleas (www.newsweek.com)
Aww Yiss. Mothaflippin schadenfreude
Jaxolotl (sh.itjust.works)
I couldn’t resist
Many believe the founders wanted a Christian America. Some want the government to declare one now (apnews.com)
The idea of a Christian America means different things to different people. Pollsters have found a wide circle of Americans who hold general God-and-country sentiments....
Biden calls for broad new social programs, higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy (wapo.st)
A dairy farm is accused of stealing $3 million in wages. But was there a crime? (minnesotareformer.com)
Over the past three years, dairy farmers Keith Schaefer and his daughter Megan Hill stole at least $3 million from hundreds of their workers across central Minnesota, according to a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Keith Ellison earlier this month....
Elon Musk says he's 'Jewish by association' after Auschwitz visit, sees 'almost no antisemitism' (www.nbcnews.com)
“I’m aspirationally Jewish,” Musk said. “So I was like, ‘What are people talking about with this antisemitism?’ Because I never hear it at dinner conversations."...
Israel says it will launch Rafah assault if hostages not freed by Ramadan (www.theguardian.com)
A member of Israel’s war cabinet has said the country will launch its threatened ground offensive against Rafah, the last place of relative safety in Gaza, if Hamas does not release its remaining Israeli hostages by the beginning of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan in just under three weeks....
In space no pangolin can hear you scream... (sh.itjust.works)
“I admire its purity. A pangolin… unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality.”
It is possible your young may befriend the Houseplant Monster (sh.itjust.works)
'Doom spending' takes hold among younger consumers (chicago.suntimes.com)
Has anyone ever successfully utilized ADA protections in a work environment?
Based on the Best Selling Novel (sh.itjust.works)
To stop a shooter | Why would an armed officer stand by as a school shooting unfolds? (www.theatlantic.com)
Finance guru Dave Ramsey slams 'awful' Gen Zers and millennials who live with their parents: 'They suck. They can't buy a house because they don't work' (fortune.com)
want to get started but finding the technical side really overwhelming
I’d really like to get started with this stuff but finding the technical requirement exhausting....
Task Force That Includes Iraq War Architects Unveils Post-War Plan for Gaza (truthout.org)
The plan calls for the creation of a private governing entity and allows the hiring of Western mercenaries for security.
Consumers are tired of inflation. But some retailers fear falling prices (www.cnbc.com)
Key Points...
'Ready for Civil War': Illinois Man Arrested With Bombs Posted Right-Wing Content (www.rollingstone.com)
Paywall removed: archive.is/Qgpry
Tesla pushes for $56bn pay deal for Elon Musk (www.bbc.com)
Google says Chrome can now protect you better while preserving your privacy (www.theverge.com)