Friedberg @ 00:51:49Inconclusive
techscienceclimate
By roughly 2050–2100, operational plasma fusion systems will provide abundant, effectively cheap energy; by the 22nd century (2100–2200), controlled fusion-based nucleosynthesis will become practically achievable, allowing industrial-scale production of heavier elements (e.g., lithium, rare earths, phosphorus) from lighter feedstocks such as water or common materials.
So over the next call it 100 years plasma fusion systems, I think back half of this century come online, provide us with abundant free energy. And then in the 22nd century, I think this idea of nucleosynthesis, the idea that we can actually make the rare earth or the heavier elements that are limited natural resources here on Earth where we could turn water into gold, or water into lithium, or water into molybdenum, or into beryllium or whatever starts to become a reality.View on YouTube
Explanation
The prediction concerns developments in the late 21st century (2050–2100) and 22nd century (2100–2200). As of November 30, 2025:
- No commercial, grid‑scale plasma fusion power plants are yet operating. Current milestones (e.g., NIF’s ignition results and experimental tokamaks like ITER, EAST, JET) are still at the research/prototype stage, not the “abundant free energy” scenario described.
- Controlled fusion-based nucleosynthesis for industrial production of heavier elements from light feedstocks (e.g., “turn water into lithium or gold”) does not exist as a practical technology; this remains a theoretical/long‑term concept in physics and engineering research.
Because the prediction’s time windows (mid/late 21st and 22nd centuries) have not yet arrived, it cannot be evaluated as right or wrong at this time. The correct classification is therefore “inconclusive (too early)”.