“ And if/when, after all those decades of work, a fusion reactor were to start up, it would have to raise steam using fast neutrons, alpha rays (fast... (read full comment) ” 

Posted on May 2, 2012 at 7:31 AM EDT

“ patents and licenses You explain the intent of patent law very well. Alas, all too often a financially strong firm will refuse to grant a... (read full comment) ” 

Posted on March 5, 2010 at 4:44 AM EST

“ in case of success? Already in the 80s or 90s there was a news story about a tokamak that reached energy break-even but had to be switched off... (read full comment) ” 

Posted on July 31, 2009 at 5:56 AM EDT

“ fuel cells for transportation The current Nafion membrane based fuel cells are not the way forward for both technical reasons (need very pure... (read full comment) ” 

Posted on May 11, 2009 at 4:38 AM EDT

“ The battery cost argument is valid, though - as well as the energy density argument. Better technologies CAN quickly replace older ones, for... (read full comment) ” 

Posted on March 11, 2009 at 7:20 AM EDT

“ less CO2?? So, the bacteria make methane out of carbon + water, which is only possible, thermodynamically, by binding the oxygen in that water to... (read full comment) ” 

Posted on January 8, 2009 at 4:31 AM EST

“ wind power & storage Storing excess power in the form of electrolytically made hydrogen (in classical gas holders at very moderate pressure)... (read full comment) ” 

Posted on December 22, 2008 at 3:35 AM EST

“ fusion power? radioactivity! At tens of millions Kelvin temperature, heat is in the form of gamma radiation and the helium nuclei produced are so... (read full comment) ” 

Posted on December 15, 2008 at 4:35 AM EST

“ gas to liquids Shell has a commercial natural-gas-to-liquids operation in Europe and Asia. (read full comment) ” 

Posted on August 8, 2008 at 11:22 AM EDT

“ still a long way to go Pixels of 6x6 micrometer remain very much larger than the silver halide crystals in film. I also note that a high end SLR... (read full comment) ” 

Posted on July 16, 2008 at 7:14 AM EDT