Hybrid Fusion Power

An interesting article in New Scientist talks about hybrid fusion power as a third and ostensibly safer form of nuclear power. And, the question is what can be done to pursue this kind of compromise option? It would seem just common sense to believe that more investment in research is called for but it comes down to a question of national priorities.

The 2011 budget request for Defense and Defense Related amounts to over one trillion dollars. Of that amount, defense related energy is about $21 Billion. Meanwhile, the entire 2011 budget request for the Department of Energy is just $28 Billion and of that just $140 Million is allocated to Energy Frontier Research or about $10 Million less than it cost to make the movie Iron Man (*)





(*) Note: Iron Man was privately funded and I love the movie but it makes for an ironic comparison :)