fusion

Latest about fusion

The fusion reactions at the National Ignition Facility takes place at the heart of the world's most powerful laser system, which consumes about 400 MJ of energy each time it's fired.

'Burning' hydrogen plasma in the world's largest laser sets fusion records

By Tom Metcalfe published

New details of the record-setting nuclear fusion experiment last year reveal the intricacy and precision needed to achieve it.

Physics & Mathematics
Illustration of a permanent lunar base by the European Space Agency

NASA wants to put a nuclear power plant on the moon by 2030 — and you can help

By Brandon Specktor published

NASA and the Department of Energy hope to put a nuclear fission reactor on the moon by 2030, and they need your help.

The Moon
Damien Jemison, photographer at the National Ignition Facility (NIF), captured this image of the NIF laser beam lines entering a part of the target chamber. Jemison needed five exposures to capture the range of light in the dimly lit spot. He also converted the resulting image to monotone, saying "The end result is my artistic view of how I feel when standing face-to-face with the highest-energy laser in the world."

Fusion experiment breaks record, blasts out 10 quadrillion watts of power

By Tom Metcalfe published

Physics & Mathematics
Colorful fission of particle in collider, computer generated abstract background, 3D rendering.

Fission vs. fusion: What's the difference?

By Adam Mann published

A short overview of two different nuclear processes: fission and fusion.

Nuclear Energy
High Energy Particles Flow Through A Tokamak Or Doughnut-Shaped Device.

How much energy can be created at one time?

By Xuejian Wu published

How much energy can be created at one time without losing control?

Nuclear Energy
MacKenzie Warren adjusting magnetic trap

Physicists trap ultracold plasma in a magnetic bottle for the 1st time

By Ben Turner published

Scientists want to use it to learn more about the sun and nuclear fusion.

Physics & Mathematics
image of nuclear fusion reactor SPARC

Nuclear fusion reactor could be here as soon as 2025

By Charles Q. Choi published

A viable nuclear fusion reactor — one that spits out more energy than it consumes — could be here as soon as 2025.

Physics & Mathematics
A snippet of the new solar time-lapse video

Rare ghostly particles produced inside the sun just detected under a mountain in Italy

By Diane Lincoln published

For the first time ever, physicists have spotted rare, ghostly particles, called CNO solar neutrinos, produced by a weird kind of fusion inside the sun.

The Sun
The Plasma Liner Experiment is pictured at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Giant Plasma Guns Could Be the Answer to Limitless Fusion Power

By Rafi Letzter published

Los Alamos physicists want to combine two fusion-power techniques and finally harness the energy source that powers the sun.

Physics & Mathematics
fusion stock image

A 12-Year-Old Built a Fusion Reactor in His Playroom

By Rafi Letzter published

A 12-year-old kid from Tennessee created a nuclear reaction in his family's playroom. Here's how he did it.

Chemistry
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