Dr. Robert Bussard is a former Assistant Director of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. The video that follows is a presentation at Google from late 2006. This is a fascinating lecture on the alternative to thermonuclear fusion research and the revival of an older idea, that of Inertial Electrostatic Confinement. Fusion is a hot subject, not just within academia (it’s less than two years that the international community has agreed on ITER and this troubled project is due for completion by 2013), but also in the economy and society in general (eco-conscience development, climate change, dependency on diminishing and expensive oil supplies). According to Bussard’s presentation, further developments on IEC might render thermonuclear fusion an obsolete idea and make fusion a reality much faster (and cheaper/easier) than expected. Dr. Bussard’s company managed to get really ‘interesting’ results with their Polywell project, before his funding run out in 2006 (due to Iraq war cutbacks), according to his Wikipedia page. So now he is travelling all over the U.S. trying to secure funding to develop the next prototype that will make or break his predictions. It’s highly ironic that while his contract has not been terminated — he’s still supported by the U.S. Navy, he’s just not given any additional funding, which means that they don’t think his work is not worth it, they just can’t pay him — and while the U.S. Government is pouring billions of dollars occupying Iraq, they cannot provide the $200 million a respected scientist potentially on the brink of the most incredible scientific discovery imaginable.

So what if Bussard is right? Well, if he’s right and the actual development of capable reactors is as simple (in terms of the engineering) as he claims, the economic, social and cultural ramifications will be tremendous. According to his presentation, given the required funding, the development of a functioning proof of concept reactor could become reality within five years with a commercial solution ready 6-10 years after that — these estimates are several decades ahead of any estimate for commercially viable thermonuclear solution.

For more information on his work check out this site.

The Nürburgring race this year was phenomenal by recent Formula 1 standards. It is probably the most impressive race I can remember in the 21st century to date. At times it was reminiscent of the battles between Hakkinen and Schumacher in the late 1990s or Prost and Senna about a decade earlier. It goes a long way to show how the weather can highlight some of the less obvious abilities of the drivers and design decisions, how tyre strategies can make or break a team’s race and how different cars’ aerodynamics work for and against the driver under different tyres.

The intermittent rain was perhaps the main reason for which the race developed as bizarrely as it did: Raikonnen retired early, Hamilton managed an impressive climb from P17 to P10 and of course the amazing duel between Alonso (who eventually got a much needed and clear win) and Felippe Massa (2nd) who couldn’t fight the McLaren assault in wet conditions, despite having a faster car overall; Alonso’s impressive overtaking of Massa in the last laps was sensational as the cars touched twice; tensions obviously ran high and the race was followed by a bitter exchange of words between Alonso and Massa, although Alonso apologised for his remarks to Massa during the press conference. The changing weather conditions were also contributing factors to Mark Webber’s first podium (3rd place) with Red Bull. Alonso’s win is a return to form for both the driver, McLaren and — arguably — the championship. Renault continued its mediocre overall performance despite Kovalainen’s demonstration of his talent and continuing development — he would have finished fifth if it weren’t for a tyre puncture. Fisichella again proved that he’s an excellent driver under rain, but a mediocre driver overall, not managing to finish within the points.

While there is no doubt that Formula 1 regulations and the importance of strategy and engineering have reduced the sport to an engineering research and demonstration contest and relatively boring, uninviting races, the 2007 season continues to impress with four excellent drivers and their McLarens and Ferraris as well as the four top teams constantly improving their cars and engines. If Europe GP is any indication, things are getting better indeed. It’s only a shame that those driver and car combinations were missing in the 5 years of total Michael Schumacher domination.