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Nuclear fusion has been chased by scientists for years as the holy grail of energy technology. Notably, scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory made history by conducting a nuclear fusion reaction which output more energy than it took in. Because of the high energy density of such reactions, the abundant energy source (hydrogen), and the safe byproduct (helium), most people consider fusion to be the perfect source of energy. If such a nearly limitless source of energy becomes abundant, there are significant changes to our daily lives which scientists and technologists think will take place.
A group of scientists and sociologists were polled to see how cheap abundant energy could change our lives. Here are 7 major changes predicted by experts:
1. Vertical Farming
Many deep-tech enthusiasts tout vertical farm as the future of agriculture. By moving food production closer to consumption, they say it will cut down significantly on transportation related emissions. However, this technology is currently limited by the high energy requirements of growing food with artificial life. Solar panels are currently only 20% efficient, so solar panel powered vertical farms would require extremely large numbers of panels. This simply isn’t cost-competitive compared to the free energy of direct sunlight on traditional farms.
However, nuclear fusion could fix the energy problem faced by vertical farming. With this issue solved, vertical farms could become the go-to solution for delicate vegetables and herbs, which often encounter damage during transport. By growing kale, lettuce, and various herbs close to urban centers, fusion-powered vertical farms can change the farming ecosystem.
2. Exotic Materials Built With Nuclear Fusion Energy
Materials science stands as one of the key enabling technologies which creates new use cases across multiple industries. Carbon fibers have revolutionized the aerospace and race car industries. Bioplastics are providing sustainable solutions for previously hydro-carbon based plastics. However, lack of energy stands as the big blocker preventing the development of more materials. Many new types of materials are hypothetically feasible to make, but take too much energy in production to be commercially feasible.
Fusion will change this. The nearly limitless energy of fusion will enable carbon capture technologies, which can both remove carbon in the atmosphere and create solid carbon-based materials which can be used as building materials. Nonocelluse, inspired by plant-fibers, can become the next generation lightweight material which will compete with current carbon fiber technology. Finally, synthetic diamonds will become more economically feasible to produce, widening the number of industrial applications
3. Electric Vehicle Use
Electric vehicles are the future of transportation. Even when utilizing fossil-fuel powered energy grids, electric vehicles emit fewer fossil fuels than internal combustion engine vehicles. On top of this, EVs are much quieter and require much less maintenance. Finally, the replacement of an engine with a smaller motor opens up additional trunk space in the front.
However, the last mile of emissions reduction will require nuclear fusion. With this final piece to the puzzle, EVs will become nearly emissions free, other than the emissions related to manufacturing the actual parts of the vehicle. This will lead to major reductions in carbon emissions.
4. PC Gaming Renaissance
What is preventing the PC gaming industry from growing even more than it does now? Is it cooling technology? Clearly not – PC nerds have built sophisticated liquid-cooled rigs which can run overclocked PCs for hours on end. Is it money? Not at all. People will drop tens of thousands of dollars to build high-powered PCs so they can play a video game with slightly better graphics. The clear limiting factor is the lack of infinite energy on the planet. Once energy becomes abundant with nuclear fusion, there will be a renaissance in the PC gaming community. Experts predict most gamers will begin playing PC games up to 18 hours a day, and will build rigs which are larger than a car. In fact, people believe PC gamers will remove their cars from their garages and replace them with giant PCs once nuclear fusion becomes widespread.
5. Light Pollution Dystopia In the Age of Fusion
Light pollution of course is not great for the environment. It can confuse birds and other animals which rely on light for navigation purposes, and can disrupt the circadian rhythms of both people and wildlife. This will probably get worse after fusion is introduced. With abundant cheap energy, every house and office building will become a giant times square style electronic billboard. People will stop turning lights off in general, and we will enter a new society where night becomes a distant forgotten memory. We will live in an eternal daytime, as the never ending neon lights, street lamps, lit building exteriors, and floodlights make darkness a thing of the past. Humanity’s memory of stars will began to dissipate as light pollution takes hold.
6. Nonstop Loud Music in the Neighborhood
Nobody likes it when one random guy decides to start playing really loud music from his apartment, complete with a deep subwoofer that shakes the entire apartment building. At least these people turn off the music after 2 to 3 hours. But this isn’t because people complain and tell them to turn the music off – it’s because the music players are price-conscious and don’t want to consume too much energy with their speakers.
Fusion will change this. Without the constraint of energy costs, every annoying neighbor will start playing loud music 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It will be the end of peace and quiet, replaced by a world of nonstop dubstep music. Earplus will become a new fashion item as people will have to to use them to keep their sanity.
7. Windows as Thermostats Thanks to Nuclear Fusion
The most profound impact of nuclear fusion will be the replacement of thermostats with the opening and closing of windows. If it’s a cold day, people will turn the heat way up. However, once the room gets too hot, they won’t just shut the heat off. Instead, people will open their windows, letting in cold air. Once it gets cold again, someone else will close the window. This pattern will repeat all day long.
The opposite will happen in the summer. People will turn on the A/C when it gets hot outside. Once it gets too cold indoors, people will open windows to let the hot air in, then someone will eventually close the window. Over and over again.
This new living pattern means people will no longer want to place desks close to windows, due to the extreme variations in climate. Instead, desks and couches will be moved to the middle of each floor in each house. Our home lives will never be the same again.
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