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This is a link post Lockheed make nuclear fusion breakthrough
apparently.
 (I helped save b3ta! Firkinfedup last shat on your wife's tits at, Thu 16 Oct 2014, 15:24, Reply)
This is a normal post Prototypes within 5 years?
Yeah, right.
 (I helped save b3ta! Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Thu 16 Oct 2014, 15:30, Reply)
This is a normal post el Reg has been covering this story too
The general opinion appears to be that it's a bit of a rum do. Possibly just a patent grab.

The main question is why are LM going for outside investment for this? They clearly have the capacity to fund it on an internal R&D budget.
 (I helped save b3ta! wheresthefish Partly filled with wrong, Thu 16 Oct 2014, 15:35, Reply)
This is a normal post Inevitably their first thought is 'how can we use this to make our killing machines more efficient'
I'm sure humanity will gain something positive from this once all the patents have expired
 (benito vaselini no not that one, Thu 16 Oct 2014, 15:39, Reply)
This is a normal post The patent aspect worries me a little, too.
Given the social good it'd generate, there'd be a very good reason to abandon the prevailing IP model - but that'd make it unattractive to investors.

It looks like the sort of thing where an Impact Fund would be useful: essentially, the UN would pay Lockheed some agreed figure in lieu of profits, in return for which they would make the design freely available to the market.
 (I helped save b3ta! Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Thu 16 Oct 2014, 15:46, Reply)
This is a normal post Does the UN do that sort of thing?

(benito vaselini no not that one, Thu 16 Oct 2014, 15:50, Reply)
This is a normal post Nope.
But there's all kinds of models for reforming IP for the public good that suggest (say) countries, or the UN, or the WHO contributing to a global fund, which would then be able to incentivise and then buy out certain innovations pro bono publico.
 (I helped save b3ta! Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Thu 16 Oct 2014, 20:35, Reply)
This is a normal post That's interesting, but not really possible, is it?

(I helped save b3ta! omnitruncatedkraken from Empire Algol, Thu 16 Oct 2014, 20:49, Reply)
This is a normal post Bloody hell.
If this is true, we've just flushed 50 billion down the toilet in France.
 (I helped save b3ta! Tusk knows where you live, Thu 16 Oct 2014, 15:46, Reply)
This is a normal post Something about eggs and baskets

(I helped save b3ta! evil_andy Stick stick stick stick sticky sticky stick stick, Thu 16 Oct 2014, 15:50, Reply)
This is a normal post *invests in the earth's oceans and natural lithium deposits*

(I helped save b3ta! Mudface The web isn't callipygian, Thu 16 Oct 2014, 15:47, Reply)
This is a normal post That's the bit that worries me
I thought we were already pushing the world's lithium resources pretty hard to supply all those Prius batteries.
 (I helped save b3ta! evil_andy Stick stick stick stick sticky sticky stick stick, Thu 16 Oct 2014, 15:51, Reply)
This is a normal post our dilithium resources have been squandered on making Star Trek

(Victoria'sBeard Different political view? I hate you!, Thu 16 Oct 2014, 17:34, Reply)
This is a normal post I'm caught in two minds about this
I'm naturally skeptical as practical fusion has always been something that's about 25 years away. However it is Skunk Works. Would they really risk their reputation on wild claims if they couldn't follow through with it?

Someone tell me what to feel already...
 (I helped save b3ta! evil_andy Stick stick stick stick sticky sticky stick stick, Thu 16 Oct 2014, 15:49, Reply)