Nuclear Fusion

Latest news on fusion power, a type of nuclear power in which atomic nuclei combine to release energy. This type of reaction is the same process that powers the sun and other stars, and is considered a potential source of clean and abundant energy. In a fusion reaction, two light atomic nuclei fuse together to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy in the process. Fusion reactions have the potential to produce much more energy than traditional nuclear fission reactions, and do not produce harmful radioactive waste. However, the technology to harness fusion power on a large scale is still in development. Fusion research is ongoing around the world, with several experimental fusion reactors currently in operation.

Scientists at the US government's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California recently achieved a net energy gain in a fusion reaction for the first time, according to the Financial Times. This milestone, known as net energy gain or target gain, is significant because it indicates that the process could provide a reliable, abundant alternative to fossil fuels and conventional nuclear energy. However, many scientists believe fusion power stations are still decades away.