this post was submitted on 11 Jan 2024
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This is multiple degrees of magnitude smaller than conventional RTGs
But nothing actually new, just downscaled. This was possible before, but not done because we don't want to give people the ability to get radioactive material, even in small quantities.
It is new. Traditional RTGs rely on heat differentials. This converts the energetic particles directly to electricity without the intermediate step. That's a very significant technical difference. Assuming what the article attests is true, of course
Ok, if that's true thats actually new. However i doubt until it's proven independently.