creating supernovas in a lab?

[Eva]

This is a question coming from a very simple mind, so please bear with me if you can. I've heard that scientists have found a way to mimic the deportment of a supernova in a superadvanced laboratory setting, and in doing so, have found a possible method for the creation of energy due to the nuclear fission of the atoms. If this were to be true, wouldn't we be left with a so-called "black hole", and what do you all think that we could possibly make of this new technology? In my mind, the possibilities are endless...

[Slip Mahoney]

We already generate tons of energy via nuclear fission. Been doing it for years. That's how nuclear power reactors work.

Nuclear fusion, on the other hand is still out of our grasp, and may always be.

Table top cold fusion mumjo-jumbo nonwithstanding.

[DrMatrix]

Originally posted by Slip Mahoney
Nuclear fusion, on the other hand is still out of our grasp, and may always be.Controlled, sustained fusion is out of our grasp. The power of an H-bomb is from fusion.

Neither fusion nor fission necessarily results in a black hole.

[Ell]

If a supernova is created the material used to create would be under the Chandrasekhar Limit. Therefore it wouldn't be possible for the matter to be converted into a black hole.

[Ike Witt]

Here is a link (http://www.discover.com/june_01/featstar.html) to a story from Discover magazine.

[ali0r]

The lab your referring to...its name and location escape me :)...but it does exist and I do know it uses the most powerful laser in the world, fired at a *few* uranium atoms? Which produces a similar?...to supernovae/atom bomb explosion?...But no black holes.
Please excuse my vague answer...it was about 3am and I was half conscious when I half saw this on telly. :)