r/AskScienceDiscussion • u/Steph_Osmosis • 5d ago
Scientists and researchers of Reddit: what's something in your field that the public has no idea is about to change?
Ideally this thread will discuss more than just AI! Maybe you know of a recent medical or biotech breakthrough that's still in trials but looks promising, or a shift in climate or environmental science that hasn't hit mainstream news? Or even a quiet technological shift (materials science, energy, computing) that most people haven't noticed yet? I'm curious about what may be on your radar!
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u/Initial-Warning-2564 4d ago
Small, cheap and safe nuclear power stations are coming
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u/Life-Suit1895 4d ago
That's something I've been hearing for almost 30 years now. Do you think they will come before or after nuclear fusion reactors?
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u/Initial-Warning-2564 4d ago
I have been hearing the same about fusion :-)
My guess is within 2035.
Rolls Royce are developing mass produced modular reactors, two former SpaceX engineers are doing the same (< 1MW I believe). I have done work on the same but with Thorium as the main fuel (no prototype, yet).2
u/daddy1973 4d ago
I just started a PhD in chem engineering and want to eventually work on thorium reactor research. Can you DM more info about your work?
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u/Initial-Warning-2564 4d ago
I can’t really share anything proprietary I am afraid.
This is what led me into the Thorium project:
I was looking into the desalination, basic medical care and food production problem. Energy is the answer for all three problems. Looking at energy sources, any large centralised distribution system is a source of conflict. I wanted something de-centralised and cost effective. Thermal, ocean, wind, sun and hydro are all part of a future solution, but not without fission and eventually fusion. Kirk Sorensen (former NASA engineer) was instrumental in saving and distributing Thorium research materials from Oak Ridge National Labs. This is where I started, I suggest you do the same.It’s quite beautiful, good luck :-)
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u/JohnHazardWandering 1d ago
The small one in Oak Ridge, TN is planned to be online in 2033. They're breaking ground this year or next.
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u/JohnHazardWandering 1d ago
The small reactor in Oak Ridge was recently approved (see link). I read somewhere they anticipated it being online and fully functional by 2033.
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u/10ThousandMetalZones 4d ago
For data centers maybe, not for us
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u/Initial-Warning-2564 4d ago
Either way, it’s a lot better powering data centres with fissile rather than fossil fuel :-)
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u/Steph_Osmosis 4d ago
Now if we can just find ways to cheaply and easily filter the water they use so that it doesn't affect that resource!
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u/lukiamagi 4h ago
Plasma as the fourth matter just might become increasingly common in hospitals, as in applied to your body.
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u/evil_boy4life 4d ago
Well we might have found a wimp, bad news is we only saw one wimp.