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5579
From: jeffersonzuma, [DNS_Address]
Subject: The Farnsworth Fusor
URL: http://www.veteranstoday.com/2014/10/18/vt-science-the-farnsworth-fusor/
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VT Science: The Farnsworth Fusor Farnsworth Farnsworth Hot fusion was the cold war quest. Besides the space race, fusion was the socio scientific dream. The loss of hope … the loss of myth … in this massive social project produced a brooding meditation among engineers who were devoted to its fulfillment. For Be better part of twenty years there were billions of dollars spent for fusion research … seemingly in vain…. The Farnsworth Fusor – The Most Notably Forgotten Episode in “Hot” Fusion History by Gerry Vassilatos Editor’s note: Survivalism among academicians is no less savage and ruthless than among…How ITT crushed fusion development and enslaved mankind to carbon. Jeff Smith, VT Science Editor A recent excellent article by Lawrence Forsley recounted each major step in the history of “hot fusion” projects. The account depicts the arduous pursuit of hopeful and brilliant personnel chasing after a prize which never appeared. This chapter in technological history left most scientific researchers with a sense of silent despair. Exploration of this inward sense of loss was an emotional item which few actually and honestly addressed. Yet the projects rolled on. Hot fusion was THE cold war quest. Besides the space race, FUSION was the socio scientific dream. The loss of hope … the loss of myth … in this massive social project produced a brooding meditation among engineers who were devoted to its fulfillment. For the better part of twenty years there were billions of dollars spent for fusion research … seemingly in vain. Each lost social dream becomes social malaise. Wars develop when social myths are deferred. The synthetic manufacture of new and continual myths replaces the hope deferred. Governments and regulators sponsor such alternative myths continually. The gross funding of new fusion projects represents a means for maintaining public morale at a very subliminal level. The prize elusive was replaced by countless journals, articles, and texts … as if so much paper would fulfill the absence of the Grail. This general sense of misdirection among most physicists was balanced by a furious return to the chalkboards and publishing homes. The dream deferred became mere talk and analysis. Theoreticians, at least, found continual employment. Shelves of once optimistic theoretical works on fusion were suddenly flooded over with equally optimistic and authoritarian apologetics. These inflated works proclaimed the “way out” through newer magnetic containment systems. While most project personnel simply dissociated themselves from the race for controlled fusion, others (foolishly) raised their broken swords higher and “challenged nature to achieve where anti others failed. This of course meant that grant monies were to be sought again … despite the generally accepted hopelessness of the quest Fusion researchers were trapped, like some modern Tantalus … in magnetic containment ... |
5580
From: horst graben, [DNS_Address]
Subject: what is a "farns" worth? (NT)
| (NT) |
Responses:
[5582]
5582
From: Poppie, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Probably about as much as a Henway.
| Old joke -- how much is that Henway? Oh, about ten pounds. |
Responses:
None
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