The sun doesn't produce a lot of energy because it is hot. The sun produces energy because it is big. All functional experimental fusion reactors operate at much higher temperatures than the sun.

[–] HootinNHollerin@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

Like 10x for takamak iirc

[+] Dagrothus@reddthat.com -6 points 7 months ago (2 children)

It's a straight up factually incorrect title. Heat is a measure of energy. The sun produces 3.9e26 joules of heat per second. So no, they did not surpass the heat of the sun.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

Nah, that's a nitpick. In common English heat is just presence of high temperatures, and there's no specific word for thermal energy.

Also, that would be heat/time, so power basically. The sum of all heat currently in the sun would be larger, considering how slow the convection is among other things.

[–] Dagrothus@reddthat.com 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

We're talking about energy generation, so the distinction is pretty important. I think a layperson can understand that it takes far more heat to boil a pot of water than a match can produce, even if the match is at a higher temperature than the stove top.

A layperson would describe the heat of a campfire as being much higher than the heat of a candle, even if theyre the same temperature.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 7 months ago

Yeah, I guess that's fair. They're definitely talking about temperature, and I think most would understand it that way, because the layman might not even know the connection between higher temperatures and better heat engines, but economically speaking it's not super relevant. The actual power output is probably negligible; it's a research machine.

[–] chetradley@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Heat in terms of temperature is a measure of molecular kinetic energy, so you can say two things are the same temperature regardless of the total energy of the system, which is a function of the change in temperature, mass and specific heat of a substance.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 25 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Its actually pretty "easy" to get hotter than the sun

[–] bradorsomething@ttrpg.network 13 points 7 months ago (2 children)

An electrical arc is as hot as the surface of the sun.

[–] lurch@sh.itjust.works 7 points 7 months ago (1 children)

your mom ... no wait 😅

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

Continue...

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 7 months ago

Even if you get as hot as the core, you're not doing the same amount of fission unless you have similar pressure at the same time, and no you don't. It's a bit complicated by the fact the sun is mostly protium, and has low volumetric energy output as a result, but that's the gist.

[–] colourednumbers@slrpnk.net 20 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Did it produce surplus energy?

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

Shhh, we're talking about heat generation

[–] gaael@lemmy.world 15 points 7 months ago (1 children)

How many billionaires can be put inside at the same time? Asking for no reason.

[–] TheWilliamist@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago (1 children)

“…$30,000 a gram in 2022, almost as precious as a diamond.” 🤨

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago

I though that was strange too. I'm sure you can get a gram of industrial diamond dust for much cheaper.

[–] frankgrimeszz@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago (2 children)

BP and Shell: 👀

[–] veroxii@aussie.zone 3 points 7 months ago

Article says Shell invested $160m in Zap in 2022.

[–] emergencyfood@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago

The smart ones are investing in renewables.