Oct 11 2012: I don't really know how one can draw a line and say that "this is classical music and that is not". There are plenty of excellent (and living) musicians and composers whose music is clearly the continuation of classical themes. Everything from George Winston's piano solos to John William's grand themes. And really, isn't "Rent" an opera? Calling it a "Musical" is pure marketing. Besides, who would go see "Phantom of the Musical?"
I count it a blessing that I live in a time when so much good music is easily available. Some was written centuries ago, some last week.
I think that it's very much worth pursuing fusion reactors, but I don't think they will work the way that you've described.
The big difference between the fission reactors (which are widely used) and fusion reactors is the environment needed to create the reaction. Fission is accomplished anytime enough of the correct material (meaning uranium, plutonium or a few other elements) is piled together. Nothing else is needed to start the fission process. In fact that's part of the problem. The reaction can continue even if the reactor and it's control systems are damaged, as happened at Chernobyl, Three mile Island, and Fukashima.
Fusion reactions require astonishing high temperatures and pressures. The Uranium and Plutonium used as a match to trigger a fusion reaction in an H-Bomb are as you mention, a full blown atomic explosion. It's the only known source that's powerful enough to do it. Needless to say, there is no such thing as a control process, or even anything resembling a solid reactor that could hold it.
Current research on fusion power reactors has not yet been able to get any kind of sustained reaction. We have not yet been able to generate or sustain those temperatures for more than a few milliseconds. Doing that, and containing the energy released if we do, are daunting technical challenges. I doubt that we'll need special controls to shut off the reaction. All one has to do is stop supporting it. That's the exact opposite of a fission reactor.
There is lot's of work going on in this field. I wish them well.
I humbly differ. This is the first time that we've been able to taste the interstellar environment outside of the Sun's solar wind. We know what we expect we'll see. What we'll actually find is anyone's guess. One of the major finds so far is that the Sun's sphere of influence pulses back and forth. No one knows why.
An interesting conversation. For those of us old enough to remember the Cuban missile crisis, the answer is still nuclear war. No new super-bombs are necessary.
But for some other ideas, not counting the variations of "human nature is our worst enemy", how about:
Asteroid impact
Volcanic super eruption
Black plague style global pandemic
The claim that history will end soon seems unnecessarily narcissistic to me. People since the beginning of time have felt that the universe had reached a zenith with their generation. They've all been proven wrong (ok, that's a debatable point!). I expect nothing less with my descendents. In fact, I'd be dissapointed if my great-great-grandchildren haven't progressed far past my humble position.
Jun 6 2012: If you think it might be illegal, it probably is. And remember, every buy or sell comes at someone's expense. You'd have to decide the ethics for yourself.
Digitization on a commercial scale became possible in the mid 80's. One of the strengthes of a capitalist market is that
things happen very quickly when they're profitable.
TEDCred score: +5.10 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.
A comment on Conversation: Myths about classical music . Misconceptions about classical music are common in society .
I count it a blessing that I live in a time when so much good music is easily available. Some was written centuries ago, some last week.
Best wishes,
Doug
A comment on Conversation: Could you use controlled reactions in a thermonuclear core to produce electricity? Would it be worth the possible meltdown consequences?
I think that it's very much worth pursuing fusion reactors, but I don't think they will work the way that you've described.
The big difference between the fission reactors (which are widely used) and fusion reactors is the environment needed to create the reaction. Fission is accomplished anytime enough of the correct material (meaning uranium, plutonium or a few other elements) is piled together. Nothing else is needed to start the fission process. In fact that's part of the problem. The reaction can continue even if the reactor and it's control systems are damaged, as happened at Chernobyl, Three mile Island, and Fukashima.
Fusion reactions require astonishing high temperatures and pressures. The Uranium and Plutonium used as a match to trigger a fusion reaction in an H-Bomb are as you mention, a full blown atomic explosion. It's the only known source that's powerful enough to do it. Needless to say, there is no such thing as a control process, or even anything resembling a solid reactor that could hold it.
Current research on fusion power reactors has not yet been able to get any kind of sustained reaction. We have not yet been able to generate or sustain those temperatures for more than a few milliseconds. Doing that, and containing the energy released if we do, are daunting technical challenges. I doubt that we'll need special controls to shut off the reaction. All one has to do is stop supporting it. That's the exact opposite of a fission reactor.
There is lot's of work going on in this field. I wish them well.
Best wishes,
Doug
A comment on Conversation: Filtering carbon from the atmosphere. It could save entire species from global warming.
Unfortunately we're a very long way from being able to control helium fusion, let alone carbon fusion on the scale you imagine.
On a practical side, how much could we accomplish to these ends if we could just get everyone to plant one tree.
Best wishes,
Doug Bell
A reply on Conversation: VOYGER 1 IS ABOUT TO ENTER INTERSTELLAR SPACE. WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES OF DISCOVERYS.
I humbly differ. This is the first time that we've been able to taste the interstellar environment outside of the Sun's solar wind. We know what we expect we'll see. What we'll actually find is anyone's guess. One of the major finds so far is that the Sun's sphere of influence pulses back and forth. No one knows why.
Best wishes.
Doug
A comment on Conversation: The biggest threat to mankind. What will end the world as we know ?
An interesting conversation. For those of us old enough to remember the Cuban missile crisis, the answer is still nuclear war. No new super-bombs are necessary.
But for some other ideas, not counting the variations of "human nature is our worst enemy", how about:
Asteroid impact
Volcanic super eruption
Black plague style global pandemic
Best wishes,
Doug
A comment on Conversation: How did I harm a Beatle?
Best wishes,
Doug Bell
A comment on Conversation: Is
The claim that history will end soon seems unnecessarily narcissistic to me. People since the beginning of time have felt that the universe had reached a zenith with their generation. They've all been proven wrong (ok, that's a debatable point!). I expect nothing less with my descendents. In fact, I'd be dissapointed if my great-great-grandchildren haven't progressed far past my humble position.
Best wishes,
Doug Bell
A comment on Conversation: "Fund-raising" via crowdsourced artificial shocks on the stock market
Thanks,
Doug Bell
A comment on Conversation: Is history really necessary?
To know history is to know ourselves. It is at it's root the study of human behaviour.
Best wishes,
Doug Bell
A comment on Conversation: who, what, and how did all the worlds "data" e,g photos, paintings, writings, recorded music etc; get digitized so fast?
Digitization on a commercial scale became possible in the mid 80's. One of the strengthes of a capitalist market is that
things happen very quickly when they're profitable.
Best wishes,
Doug Bell