Garage fusion makes WSJ front page

[bananas]

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121901740078248225-email.html

PAGE ONE

Nuclear Ambitions: Amateur Scientists Get a Reaction From Fusion

Homemade 'Fusors' Glow, But Don't Produce Power;
Joining the 'Neutron Club'

By SAM SCHECHNER
August 18, 2008; Page A1

PITTSBURGH -- In the garage of his house, Frank Sanns spends nights tinkering with one of his prized possessions: a working nuclear-fusion reactor.

Mr. Sanns, 51 years old, is part of a small subculture of gearheads, amateur physicists and science-fiction fans who are trying to build fusion reactors in their basements, backyards and home laboratories. Mr. Sanns, who owns a banquet hall here, believes he's on track to make fusion a viable power source.

"I'm a dreamer," he says.

Many of these hobbyists call themselves "fusioneers," and have formed a loosely knit community that numbers more than 100 world-wide. Getting into their elite "Neutron Club" requires building a tabletop reactor that successfully fuses hydrogen isotopes and glows like a miniature star. Only 42 have qualified; some have T-shirts that read "Fusion -- been there...done that."

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[Xipe Totec]

1. Nice!

Thanks for posting this story.

Too bad DU only allows youtube videos on the video page, especially since the company that disseminates these videos for WSJ and NYT, (Brightcove) also disseminates videos of the Obama campaign.

[pokerfan]

2. Paging Philo Farnsworth!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo_Farnsworth#Fusor