Editing 2798: Room Temperature

{{comic
| number    = 2798
| date      = July 5, 2023
| title     = Room Temperature
| image     = room_temperature_2x.png
| imagesize = 299x352px
| noexpand  = true
| titletext = They're also refusing to fund my device that demonstrates uncontrolled hot fusion.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a LUKEWARM FUSION REACTOR. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

In this comic, Cueball presents a room-temperature {{w|Semiconductor|semiconductor}}, consisting of layered silicon crystals. He enthusiastically describes the properties of his "discovery", namely that it can be tweaked to amplify or switch the flow of electric currents, but his audience is not impressed. This might be because silicon crystal semiconductors are already widely in use as a {{w|Semiconductor_device|key component of electronic systems}}.

It appears that Cueball has confused semiconductors with {{w|Superconductivity|superconductors}} - materials that have no electrical resistance, meaning the flow of electrons is not slowed down at all (resistance can be thought of as the electrical equivalence of friction). Superconducting properties are extremely desirable since they allow for the lossless flow of electric current, as opposed to regular conductors like copper which have a low but non-zero resistance so the electric current decreases over time and distance. However, the known superconductors only work at extremely low temperatures close to 0 K, so their practical use is very limited. The discovery of superconductors that work above the boiling point of nitrogen (77 K or -196 °C) was a big deal because it meant that relatively cheap liquid nitrogen could be used as coolant rather than liquid helium. The discovery of a superconductor that works at room temperature (293 K) would be a much bigger deal and would likely earn the discovering scientist(s) a Nobel prize.

In the title text, Cueball talks about a device that produces “uncontrolled {{w|Nuclear_fusion|hot fusion}}” which is also not met with enthusiasm. Again, this is likely due to the fact that it has already been discovered and used - in the form of {{w|Thermonuclear weapon|hydrogen bombs}}. This is likely why no one wants to fund the device - not only is it not novel, but it is extremely dangerous.  ''Controlled'' hot fusion could be useful as an {{w|Fusion_power|alternative power source}} for nuclear reactors (which currently use nuclear ''fission''); however, {{w|Tokamak|current implementations}} still require more energy than they create. Cueball probably confused this with {{w|Cold_fusion|''cold'' fusion}} which is a purely hypothetical nuclear reaction that would take place at room temperature. If real, this process could provide large amounts of cheap energy, but so far all experiments that were claimed to have achieved cold fusion were found to be severely flawed and the results could not be replicated. 

It should be noted that both "discoveries" presented in the comic were in fact very big and important discoveries back in their day. The proposal that nuclear fusion is what powers stars earned {{w|Hans_Bethe|Hans Bethe}} the Nobel prize in Physics, and semiconductors are what allow modern electronic devices to be so small, as their properties make it possible to selectively steer the flow of electrical current, {{w|Integrated_circuit|even over an extremely small area}}.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

:[A single frame with a table in the middle. A device consisting of multiple components and electrical wires is on the table. A Cueball stands to the left of the table, and facing him, Ponytail and another Cueball stand to the right of the table.]
:Cueball: My layered silicon crystals can amplify or switch current while sitting right here on the table!
:Ponytail: Uh huh.
:Another Cueball: I see.

:[Caption below the panel:]
:No one is impressed by my discovery of room-temperature semiconductors.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]
[[Category:Physics]]