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[sankt-Antonio]

This is as if Ford released a cartoon about an upcoming EV and wrote "1000miles range, starting at 20K$". Only to later have it be PR to pump the stock price. How is this allowed?

 

[Majmun]

Doesn't look staged at all!

 

[LimanimaPT]

I never thought I would witness HAL9000 on my lifetime, but yet here we are (almost)...
Edit: ho, it's fake! hahahah
Can't believe in anything nowadays...

 

[Kacho]

Google to Pause Gemini Image Generation of People After Issues

Alphabet Inc.’s Google said it will pause the image generation of people for Gemini, a powerful artificial intelligence model, after criticism about how it was handling race.

www.bloomberg.com

With how competitive the AI space is, I suspect the Gemini controversy sets them back big time. If the integrity of your tool is questionable people will look elsewhere.

What is the general consensus on the *best* AI tool atm? I've only used ChatGPT and DALL-E.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Ironically my S24U just prompted me yesterday about turning Gemini on lol

 

[Solarstrike]

Just a random thought with Google Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental recently released (February 5, 2025). Input: "Advanced propulsion using Helium-3 mined on the Moon. Is it possible to achieve light speed travel using pressurized Helium-3"


"While using Helium-3 mined on the Moon for advanced propulsion is a fascinating and potentially viable concept for very fast interstellar travel, achieving light speed travel using pressurized Helium-3 alone is not possible, regardless of the pressure.
Let's break down why and explore the nuances:
Why Light Speed is Unattainable with Pressurized Helium-3 (or anything we currently understand):

• Einstein's Theory of Relativity: The fundamental barrier is Einstein's theory of special relativity. As an object approaches the speed of light, its mass increases exponentially. To reach the speed of light, an object would require infinite energy to accelerate because its mass would become infinite.
• Energy Requirements: Even getting close to light speed requires colossal amounts of energy. The energy needed to accelerate even a small spacecraft to a significant fraction of light speed is far beyond our current energy generation capabilities, even with the most efficient theoretical technologies.
• Helium-3's Role: Nuclear Fusion, Not Direct Propulsion: Helium-3 is valuable because it's a potential fuel for nuclear fusion. Fusion releases immense amounts of energy when light atomic nuclei (like Helium-3 and Deuterium) are fused together. This energy can then be harnessed to propel a spacecraft. However, Helium-3 itself isn't directly "pressurized" to create thrust like a propellant in a chemical rocket.
• "Pressurized Helium-3" is Misleading in this Context: The term "pressurized Helium-3" likely refers to the conditions needed within a fusion reactor to initiate and sustain the fusion reaction. High pressure and temperature are required to overcome the electrostatic repulsion of the nuclei and allow them to fuse. This pressure isn't directly related to creating propulsive thrust.

Helium-3 and Fusion Propulsion - The Real Potential:

• Fusion Energy for Propulsion: The real promise of Helium-3 lies in its potential to power fusion propulsion systems. Here's how it could work:
  • Fusion Reactor: A spacecraft would carry a fusion reactor that uses Helium-3 as fuel (often fused with Deuterium or Deuterium-3).
  • Energy Release: The fusion reaction releases enormous energy in the form of high-energy particles (mostly protons and alpha particles).
  • Thrust Generation: This energy can be channeled and directed to create thrust in various ways, depending on the specific propulsion system design:
    • Magnetic Nozzles: Magnetic fields could be used to direct and accelerate the charged particles from the fusion reaction out of the back of the spacecraft, creating thrust. This is the concept behind systems like VASIMR (Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket).
    • Pulsed Fusion Propulsion: Small, controlled fusion explosions could be directed to push against a pusher plate, providing pulsed thrust. Concepts like Project Orion (using nuclear fission) and more futuristic fusion-based versions explore this idea.
• Advantages of Fusion Propulsion (Powered by Helium-3):
  • High Specific Impulse: Fusion propulsion could achieve incredibly high specific impulse (a measure of propulsion efficiency), far exceeding chemical rockets and even current nuclear fission rockets. This means much less propellant is needed to achieve high velocities.
  • High Thrust-to-Weight Ratio (Potentially): While engineering challenges are immense, fusion systems could potentially offer a good thrust-to-weight ratio, allowing for faster acceleration and shorter travel times.
  • Interstellar Travel Possibilities: Fusion propulsion fueled by Helium-3 is considered one of the more promising pathways for achieving interstellar travel within reasonable human lifetimes (though still likely decades or centuries for interstellar distances).

Why Helium-3 from the Moon is Important:

• Scarcity on Earth: Helium-3 is extremely rare on Earth because our planet's magnetic field and atmosphere deflect most of the solar wind that carries Helium-3.
• Solar Wind Implantation on the Moon: The Moon lacks a global magnetic field and atmosphere, so it has been bombarded by the solar wind for billions of years. Helium-3 from the solar wind has become implanted in the lunar regolith (surface soil).
• Potential Resource: The Moon is therefore considered a potential, though dilute, source of Helium-3. Mining it would be a major undertaking, but the potential energy reward for fusion is significant.

In Summary:

• Light Speed is Not Achievable with "Pressurized Helium-3" as described. It's fundamentally limited by physics and the nature of Helium-3.
• Helium-3 is Valuable for Fusion Propulsion. It's a potential fuel for advanced fusion reactors that could power spacecraft to very high velocities, making interstellar travel more feasible.
• Fusion Propulsion is Still Theoretical. While the physics is sound, building practical and efficient fusion propulsion systems faces enormous engineering challenges.
• Moon Mining for Helium-3 is a Long-Term Concept. It's a resource to enable potential future fusion technologies, not a near-term solution.

Instead of light speed, think about Helium-3 fusion as a potential key to achieving very fast interstellar travel - perhaps reaching a significant fraction of light speed (e.g., 10-20% or more), which would still be revolutionary and allow us to explore the stars within human timescales. The focus is on harnessing the immense energy of fusion, not simply pressurizing the fuel itself."