Jesus is a Nuclear Physicist
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8485669.stm
Okay, so here's how it works: atoms have parts. They're really, really small, but if you put enough atoms together, you get molecules. If you can break molecules apart, or put enough atoms together to make your own molecule, you get a lot of energy.
We found this by trying to blow things up. Now we use it to turn on toasters.
In any event, doing either of the above requires a lot energy - which seems counter productive, since we're doing to make energy - and as I understand it, generating that much power is more trouble than it's really worth. Unless, of course, you can get a lot of little bits of power, combine them, and make them do the work for you - the whole becomes much more than the sum of its parts. (Insert God metaphor here.)
Now, we take that generic power that we've surrounded the atoms with, and we keep it there, making a whole lot of pressure which squishes the atoms all together and makes more power, for us to turn on more toasters. Or something like that.
It's interesting that socially and personally, "pressure" and "heat" are synonymous with Bad Things(tm), but when you talk about science, and/or any kind of power generation - nuclear, internal combustion, etc. - they become not only Good Things(tm), but absolutely essential. Without pressure, without exigency, there's no toast in the morning. I don't know about you guys, but I really like toast.
I think pressure is good for us, too - or it can be. Sure, it can make things blow up seven different kinds of messy - ask me about my RP group and I'll give you two earfuls - but it can also make us stronger. It can keep us going indefinitely, given the right set up conditions - which are what we need. (I need another God metaphor here.)
Okay, so here's how it works: atoms have parts. They're really, really small, but if you put enough atoms together, you get molecules. If you can break molecules apart, or put enough atoms together to make your own molecule, you get a lot of energy.
We found this by trying to blow things up. Now we use it to turn on toasters.
In any event, doing either of the above requires a lot energy - which seems counter productive, since we're doing to make energy - and as I understand it, generating that much power is more trouble than it's really worth. Unless, of course, you can get a lot of little bits of power, combine them, and make them do the work for you - the whole becomes much more than the sum of its parts. (Insert God metaphor here.)
Now, we take that generic power that we've surrounded the atoms with, and we keep it there, making a whole lot of pressure which squishes the atoms all together and makes more power, for us to turn on more toasters. Or something like that.
It's interesting that socially and personally, "pressure" and "heat" are synonymous with Bad Things(tm), but when you talk about science, and/or any kind of power generation - nuclear, internal combustion, etc. - they become not only Good Things(tm), but absolutely essential. Without pressure, without exigency, there's no toast in the morning. I don't know about you guys, but I really like toast.
I think pressure is good for us, too - or it can be. Sure, it can make things blow up seven different kinds of messy - ask me about my RP group and I'll give you two earfuls - but it can also make us stronger. It can keep us going indefinitely, given the right set up conditions - which are what we need. (I need another God metaphor here.)