National Ignition Facility Achieves Fusion Ignition
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
This is the introductory paragraph.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today announced the achievement of fusion ignition at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) — a major scientific breakthrough decades in the making that will pave the way for advancements in national defense and the future of clean power. On Dec. 5, a team at LLNL’s National Ignition Facility (NIF) conducted the first controlled fusion experiment in history to reach this milestone, also known as scientific energy breakeven, meaning it produced more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it. This first-of-its-kind feat will provide unprecedented capability to support NNSA’s Stockpile Stewardship Program and will provide invaluable insights into the prospects of clean fusion energy, which would be a game-changer for efforts to achieve President Biden’s goal of a net-zero carbon economy.
BBC Radio Five is giving the story a high profile.
The breakthrough is also featured in this article on The Telegraph, which is entitled Nuclear Fusion: Scientists Announce Major Breakthrough That ‘Could Bring Limitless Clean Energy’.
I am 75 and ever since my teens there have been regular stories about limitless fusion energy.
But the history of nuclear fusion seems to be a continuing tale of one step forward and four steps back.
I can remember ZETA at Harwell, being announced with a similar fanfare in 1957.
Wabtec Planning For Transition From Diesel
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on trains.com.
It has this sub-title.
At InnoTrans, company looks at role of batteries, hydrogen in railroading’s future.
It is very much a must-read, that gives a road-map of their plans to decarbonise rail freight, by the use of both battery and hydrogen power.
€1m Qatar Corruption Scandal Rocks European Parliament
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.
This is the sub-heading.
A senior MEP and three officials have been charged with corruption, money laundering and participating in a criminal organisation.
As Cilla would have said “Surprise Surprise!”
100,000 Newborn Babies Set To Have Their DNA Fully Decoded
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the FT.
This sub-heading gives a few more details.
Genomics England programme aims to extend the number of treatable conditions detected to about 200.
I am coeliac and I do wish, I had been diagnosed at birth.
But more importantly, my youngest son, who would have been fifty this year, might still be here.
He was probably coeliac and worked as a sound engineer in the music business.
He lived the rock-and-roll lifestyle on a diet of ciggies, Subways and high strength cannabis.
He probably had an immune system, with all the strength of a plastic colander.
Consequently, he died at 37 of pancreatic cancer.
DEME Returns To Scotland, Announces Offshore Wind Industry Firsts
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
DEME has won the contract to install foundations at the 882 MW Moray West wind farm offshore Scotland.
The industry firsts are described in these paragraphs.
In an industry breakthrough, the Moray West project will be the first time XXL monopiles will be installed in the winter period, and DEME will deploy its double-staged, motion-compensated pile gripper, the company said.
Moray West will also be the first time a vibro-hammer is being utilised for the XXL monopiles to overcome weaker soil layers.
Note.
- The water depth at Moray West wind farm is 35-54 metres, which necessitates the XXL monopiles.
- Working offshore in winter can be challenging.
- DEME’s gripper sounds just like what the engineers wanted.
This is just like with North sea oil and gas, where everything got bigger and more capable over time. But it did speed construction!
Scientists Set To Make A Bang In Nuclear Fusion ‘Breakthrough’
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on The Times.
This is the caption under the very research looking picture at the top of the page.
Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are expected to publish results of a controlled nuclear fusion experiment.
I shall report more, when the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory publishes their official press release.
NET9 Open Ocean Aquaculture Demonstrator Design Unveiled
The title of this post, is the same as that of this news item on the Impact9 web site.
Portugal Were Glued, Stitched And Morocco-Bound
Metier’s amazing company accountant; Brian used to use a phrase of screwed, glued and tattooed, when a person or company was in trouble with the authorities and they would have to pay up.
My father was a printer and bookbinder and after today’s World Cup match between Portugal and Morocco, he’d have come up with an appropriate phrase like glued, stitched and Morocco-bound.
Note that both Brian and my father had a lot of the real East End about them.
It’s Hugo Lloris vs Jordan Pickford And There’s Only One Winner
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on The Telegraph.
This is the introductory paragraph.
By most measures, Jordan Pickford has been the better keeper than Hugo Lloris this season — especially when it comes to penalties
The Telegraph uses statistics from a specialist goalkeeping statistics site, which is called Goalkeeper-XG.
So I would tend to put a high level of trust in their deductions.
I found the Telegraph article, when I was looking for any article about the two team captains, Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris, who both play for Tottenham Hotspur, where Lloris is captain.
I also suspect that in training.
- Harry Kane has probably scored more penalties than any other player has against Hugo Lloris.
- Hugo Lloris has probably saved more penalties than any other keeper from Harry Kane.
The two players probably know each other’s strengths and weaknesses well and in addition.
- Eric Dier of Tottenham has played many games in front of Lloris, is also in the England team.
- I suspect several of the England team have taken penalties or been in one-on-one situations with the French goalkeeper in Premier League games.
- Some England players may feel they have scores to settle, after Lloris denied them of a goal, because of a superb save.
All of this information, will be powerful in the hands and minds of England’s coaches and psychologists.
On the other hand, with the notable exception of Olivier Giroud, I suspect that only a handful of the French players have faced Jordan Pickford in a goal-scoring opportunity.
I feel that the battle of the goalkeepers will be key tonight.
The Anonymous Widower 