The authoritative guide to ensuring science and technology make life on Earth better, not worse.

Fusion: The Uncertain Certainty

By Richard F. Post | November 12, 2024

An artist’s conception of a 1,000 megawatt mirror machine fusion reactor with a direct energy converter, as it appeared on the cover of the Bulletin in October, 1971. Image courtesy of R.F. Post

Fusion: The Uncertain Certainty

By Richard F. Post | November 12, 2024

Loading...
Loading...

Together, we make the world safer.

The Bulletin elevates expert voices above the noise. But as an independent nonprofit organization, our operations depend on the support of readers like you. Help us continue to deliver quality journalism that holds leaders accountable. Your support of our work at any level is important. In return, we promise our coverage will be understandable, influential, vigilant, solution-oriented, and fair-minded. Together we can make a difference.


Get alerts about this thread
Notify of
guest

1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Daniel Jassby
Daniel Jassby
21 days ago

Post’s 1971 “fusion power timetable” is Fig. 10 in his article, with the caption “The timetable for fusion energy to go .…. to an everyday commercial reality.”

Just increment the time axis by 50 years, and the timetable would be applicable today, 53 years later.

In other words, there’s been a slippage of about one year per year in reaching predicted milestones.

That’s why it always seems that “fusion power is 30 years away.”

There’s no realistic evidence of any convergence.