I am actually optimistic about fusion energy science this time around. There has never been a real first time around to start with. It always was big science and huge budgets with oversized toys.
Now at least three or more methodologies are in contention and even if they fail miserably, we will gain knowledge for what is small change. If you have a good idea that could plausibly work, it is no big trick to run simulations and from that attract the money
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