Did US Navy patent a functional fusion device?

The US Patent Office has issued a patent for a Plasma Compression Fusion Device to Salvatore Pais, of Calloway MD. The patent assignee is the United States of American as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Patuxent River MD. The news of this patent issuance has produced a minor buzz that might turn into…

Growing support for innovation as path to increase clean energy production

Last week was one in which the words nuclear, energy and innovation came together in more places and in more contexts that in any other week I can readily recall. On Monday, November 30, President Obama, President Hollande and several other world leaders introduced Mission Innovation, which is a non binding pledge by the leaders…

NIF – Future Energy Source or More Fusion Hype

Newsweek Magazine has published a story by Alexander Nazaryan titled Shine On, Tiny Little Star in its March 17, 2014 issue. It describes recently achievements announced via widely distributed press releases. It includes the following quote indicating the excitement of the people involved in the project: The people here at Livermore are pretty stoked, to…

National Ignition Facility – No Closer to Useful Fusion Power Than Before

The New York Times recently published an article titled So Far Unfruitful, Fusion Project Faces a Frugal Congress that made me feel just a little prescient. It is no surprise to me to read that the $5 billion dollar facility is no closer to producing useful nuclear fusion today than it was when it was…