Scientists in the UK have announced a major fusion energy breakthrough that could dramatically reduce the time needed to build STAR fusion reactors. The development marks a significant step toward cleaner, faster, and more viable fusion power, potentially transforming the future of global energy. This video breaks down what the breakthrough means and why it matters.

Nuclear Fusion: UK Fusion Breakthrough Slashes Time to Build Star Reactors

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Most 12-year-old boys are immersed in video games or board games in their playrooms to unwind, but Jackson Oswalt, from Memphis, Tennessee, USA, wasn&rsquo;t one of them. The teen gave up games to do something similar but bigger and more exciting, and successfully built a nuclear fusion reactor in his bedroom.
The boy procured almost every part from eBay and, after working for a year to build the reactor, got it working.&nbsp; &ldquo;One day I had a sudden epiphany. I realised that I could be the absolute best at whatever videogame, but in the end it still wouldn&rsquo;t mean much. In the grand scheme of things, videogames had no role to play,&rdquo; says Jackson. &ldquo;So, I changed my ways. Immediately I switched to the closest thing to videogames in real life: science.&rdquo;
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 After months of scrupulous work and dedicated efforts, Jackson finally detected neutrons, proving that he had achieved nuclear fusion. &ldquo;After a handful of stressful tests just days before my 13th birthday, I successfully achieved fusion and detected these neutrons as proof,&rdquo; he said.
Also Read |<a aria-label="Study ignites fresh hope for the bald, &lsquo;sugar gel&rsquo; triggers healthy hair regrowth" href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/study-ignites-fresh-hope-for-the-bald-sugar-gel-triggers-healthy-hair-regrowth-8880139" rel="noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;Study ignites fresh hope for the bald, &lsquo;sugar gel&rsquo; triggers healthy hair regrowth</a> The word spread quickly, and Jackson made the Guinness World Record for the youngest person to achieve fusion and got coverage from several media outlets. But what he never expected was a visit from the FBI.&nbsp; &ldquo;I also got some less fun attention: one Saturday I was woken up by two FBI agents, who made a quick sweep around my house with a geiger counter to make sure all was good. Fortunately, I remained a free man,&rdquo; he wrote. Jackson has since been visiting various start-ups across the US, exploring opportunities in the field of nuclear science, his story being a testament to the immense potential of a young, focused mind loaded with curiosity and determination.
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Trending | SCIENCE & TECH | World: In a post on X, Jackson shared his journey of inventing the nuclear fusion reactor, a feat he achieved just before his 13th birthday, as he became ‘obsessed with proving himself’.

Most 12-year-old boys are immersed in video games or board games in their playrooms to unwind, but Jackson Oswalt, from Memphis, Tennessee, USA, wasn’t one of them. The teen gave up games to do something similar but bigger and more exciting, and successfully built a nuclear fusion reactor in his bedroom. The boy procured almost every part from eBay and, after working for a year to build the reactor, got it working. “One day I had a sudden epiphany. I realised that I could be the absolute best at whatever videogame, but in the end it still wouldn’t mean much. In the grand scheme of things, videogames had no role to play,” says Jackson. “So, I changed my ways. Immediately I switched to the closest thing to videogames in real life: science.” Also Read | Prostate cancer surgery innovation reduces odds of post-op erectile dysfunction In a post on X, Jackson shared his journey of inventing the nuclear fusion reactor, a feat he achieved just before his 13th birthday, as he became ‘obsessed with proving himself’. Then one day he saw Taylor Wilson’s TED talk where he shared achieving controlled nuclear fusion at the age of 14 in 2008. This inspired Jackson who then decided to make something similar. He first started by learning the science behind creating a nuclear fusion, then began working on ‘demo fusor’. He sought financial assistance from his parents, but mentions that it was far from a working fusion reactor. “I rebuilt the vacuum chamber, got a turbomolecular pump from eBay, sourced some Deuterium for fuel (somewhat legally) and rebuilt the inner grid from Tantalum,” Jackson wrote on X. After months of scrupulous work and dedicated efforts, Jackson finally detected neutrons, proving that he had achieved nuclear fusion. “After a handful of stressful tests just days before my 13th birthday, I successfully achieved fusion and detected these neutrons as proof,” he said. Also Read | Study ignites fresh hope for the bald, ‘sugar gel’ triggers healthy hair regrowth The word spread quickly, and Jackson made the Guinness World Record for the youngest person to achieve fusion and got coverage from several media outlets. But what he never expected was a visit from the FBI. “I also got some less fun attention: one Saturday I was woken up by two FBI agents, who made a quick sweep around my house with a geiger counter to make sure all was good. Fortunately, I remained a free man,” he wrote. Jackson has since been visiting various start-ups across the US, exploring opportunities in the field of nuclear science, his story being a testament to the immense potential of a young, focused mind loaded with curiosity and determination. Also Read | A 130-year-old Hindu temple in Malaysia faces demolition threat, to make way for a mosque

Prodigal teen, 12, builds nuclear fusion reactor at home in Memphis, FBI comes knocking

'1,000 seconds of nuclear fusion': China's Artificial Sun breaks its own record of plasma loop generation

New Fusion Record 

Fusion Process

Sustained Plasma Loops 

EAST 

Global Fusion Effort 

Practical Fusion 

Future Developments 

The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reactor in China sustained a plasma loop for 1,066 seconds, breaking its previous record of 403 seconds. 

South Korea's 'artificial Sun', known as the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR), has set a world record in nuclear fusion. Watch in for more details!

South Korea: 'Artificial Sun' reaches a temperature of 100 million Celsius for record period

Harnessing energy through nuclear fusion has been the holy grail for the energy sector. This is the one solution that could allow humanity to break free from the clutches of fossil fuels aggravating climate crisis. European scientists celebrate unprecedented achievement as UK based Jet lab achieves historic nuclear fusion breakthrough. Nuclear fusion feat will bring the dream of clean energy closer. Watch to know more!

UK based JET lab achieves historic nuclear fusion breakthrough

Harnessing energy through nuclear fusion has been the holy grail for the energy sector. This is the one solution that could allow humanity to break free from the clutches of fossil fuels aggravating climate crisis.

Nuclear Fusion feat brings dream of clean energy closer

Nuclear fusion, the process that powers the Sun is the Holy Grail for humanity as it can potentially open doors to limitless energy. Scientists in the United Kingdom have taken a step towards the ultimate goal and have set a nuclear fusion record.

As reported by CNN, the team of scientists was able to sustain 69 megajoules of fusion energy for five seconds. And for this, only 0.2 milligrams of fuel was needed. Imagine using fuel that'll not even fully wet your finger and being able to generate massive amounts of clean energy with near-zero carbon emissions. It's a win-win for our energy needs as well as for climate change.

<h2>So what was this nuclear fusion experiment?</h2>

The team of scientists, working near Oxford in UK used Joint European Torus (JET). It's a huge machine the shape of a donut. The machine is also called tokamak.

Watch | World sees first 12 months above 1.5°c warming level

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Scientists fed deuterium and tritium to the machine. These are isotopes, or in plain language variants of Hydrogen.

The team then raised the temperature to 150 million degrees Celsius. This is 10 times hotter than solar core. At this temperature, the Hydrogen atoms fused to become Helium and generated large amount of energy. This is basically what happens during nuclear fusion in the Sun.

“Our successful demonstration of operational scenarios for future fusion machines like ITER and DEMO, validated by the new energy record, instil greater confidence in the development of fusion energy,” said Ambrogio Fasoli, CEO of EUROfusion, the group behind the experiment. Fasoli was quoted by CNN.

<h2>So is it done? Clean energy ahead?</h2>

Best scientific brains in the world are indeed working towards achieving nuclear fusion on Earth ono viable basis. Clean energy is something that's going to definitely shape future. But for now, that goal may be year ahead.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/young-exoplanets-might-be-oblate-in-shape-like-smarties-rather-than-spherical-study-shows-why-688278">Young exoplanets might be oblate in shape like 'Smarties' rather than spherical. Study shows why</a>

"This is a great scientific result, but we are still a way off commercial fusion. Building a fusion power plant also has many engineering and materials challenges,” said Aneeqa Khan, research fellow in nuclear fusion at the University of Manchester.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/hidden-ocean-under-crust-of-saturns-death-star-hints-at-existence-of-alien-life-scientists-688246">Another water world in solar system? Saturn’s moon ‘Death Star’ possibly hiding massive ocean</a>

“However, investment in fusion is growing and we are making real progress. We need to be training up a huge number of people with the skills to work in the field and I hope the technology will be used in the latter half of the century.”

Khan was quoted by CNN

(With input from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Nuclear fusion, the process that powers the Sun is the Holy Grail for humanity as it can potentially open doors to limitless energy. Scientists in the United Kingdom have taken a step towards the ultimate goal and have set a nuclear fusion record.

Nuclear fusion, the process that powers the Sun is the Holy Grail for humanity as it can potentially open doors to limitless energy. Scientists in the United Kingdom have taken a step towards the ultimate goal and have set a nuclear fusion record. As reported by CNN, the team of scientists was able to sustain 69 megajoules of fusion energy for five seconds. And for this, only 0.2 milligrams of fuel was needed. Imagine using fuel that'll not even fully wet your finger and being able to generate massive amounts of clean energy with near-zero carbon emissions. It's a win-win for our energy needs as well as for climate change. So what was this nuclear fusion experiment? The team of scientists, working near Oxford in UK used Joint European Torus (JET). It's a huge machine the shape of a donut. The machine is also called tokamak. Watch | World sees first 12 months above 1.5°c warming level × Scientists fed deuterium and tritium to the machine. These are isotopes, or in plain language variants of Hydrogen. The team then raised the temperature to 150 million degrees Celsius. This is 10 times hotter than solar core. At this temperature, the Hydrogen atoms fused to become Helium and generated large amount of energy. This is basically what happens during nuclear fusion in the Sun. “Our successful demonstration of operational scenarios for future fusion machines like ITER and DEMO, validated by the new energy record, instil greater confidence in the development of fusion energy,” said Ambrogio Fasoli, CEO of EUROfusion, the group behind the experiment. Fasoli was quoted by CNN. So is it done? Clean energy ahead? Best scientific brains in the world are indeed working towards achieving nuclear fusion on Earth ono viable basis. Clean energy is something that's going to definitely shape future. But for now, that goal may be year ahead. Also Read | Young exoplanets might be oblate in shape like 'Smarties' rather than spherical. Study shows why "This is a great scientific result, but we are still a way off commercial fusion. Building a fusion power plant also has many engineering and materials challenges,” said Aneeqa Khan, research fellow in nuclear fusion at the University of Manchester. Also Read | Another water world in solar system? Saturn’s moon ‘Death Star’ possibly hiding massive ocean “However, investment in fusion is growing and we are making real progress. We need to be training up a huge number of people with the skills to work in the field and I hope the technology will be used in the latter half of the century.” Khan was quoted by CNN (With input from agencies)

Clean energy: Scientists make new record in replicating solar process on Earth

Nuclear Fusion: A carbon-free source of energy | World News | WION

For the second time since a groundbreaking achievement in December 2022, American scientists have accomplished net energy gain in a nuclear fusion reaction. The breakthrough is being viewed as a major step towards the pursuit of a nearly limitless, safe, and clean energy source.

For the second time since a groundbreaking achievement in December 2022, American scientists have accomplished net energy gain in a nuclear fusion reaction. The breakthrough is being viewed as a major step towards the pursuit of a nearly limitless, safe, and clean energy source. Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California have replicated their historic breakthrough by achieving a higher energy yield in an experiment conducted at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) on July 30th. According to a spokesperson from Lawrence Livermore, the final results are currently under analysis. Although a major success, it is part of a long journey that could last for decades in the ongoing effort to attain an affordable and environmentally friendly power source. Also read: Massive breakthrough in nuclear fusion achieved! A step closer to clean energy, US set to make announcement The success of this endeavour was originally reported by the Financial Times on Sunday. Nuclear fission vs nuclear fusion Presently, nuclear power plants rely on fission, a process involving the splitting of atoms to generate energy — a central theme in the recent blockbuster film Oppenheimer. While nuclear power offers ample clean energy, it has raised safety concerns over the years. However, it is regaining attention amidst global efforts to curtail greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. WATCH: Nuclear fusion energy breakthrough achieved × In contrast, fusion generates energy by fusing atoms together. This concept has long been admired due to its potential for generating unlimited, clean energy without having to deal with radioactive waste associated with nuclear power or the threat of a meltdown. Moreover, the fuel required for fusion is abundantly present on earth--heavy hydrogen atoms found in seawater--eliminating the need for uranium mining. Why the recent breakthrough is significant? Although fusion reactions have been achieved previously, they have often required more energy input than energy output. The notable achievement in these recent experiments lies in obtaining more energy output than the input used to initiate the reaction. This level of efficiency has been a desired goal in fusion research. White House earlier praised December results The White House praised the December 2022 breakthrough, terming it a "wonderful example" of possibility realised. "This is such a wonderful example of a possibility realised, a scientific milestone achieved, and a road ahead to the possibilities for clean energy,” Arati Prabhakar, the White House science adviser, was quoted as saying by Washington Post. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US: Scientists achieve net energy gain from nuclear fusion reaction for second time

China has conducted yet another nuclear fusion experiment in its pursuit of creating an 'artificial sun'. On Wednesday night, the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) fusion energy reactor created an artificial sun that sustained plasma for a whopping 403 seconds, breaking the 101-second record it had set in 2017.

China has conducted yet another nuclear fusion experiment in its pursuit of creating an 'artificial sun'. On Wednesday night, the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) fusion energy reactor created an artificial sun that sustained plasma for a whopping 403 seconds, breaking the 101-second record it had set in 2017. According to various estimates, 300 seconds is the minimum time frame required to demonstrate steady-state operations. Keeping the figure in mind, scientists believe it is a major breakthrough. Song Yuntao, director of the Institute of Plasma Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences told Chinese state media that the work by his team has laid a solid foundation to improve the technical and economic feasibility of fusion reactors. “The main significance of this new breakthrough lies in its ‘high-confinement mode’, under which the temperature and density of the plasma increase significantly,” Song told Xinhua news agency. “The record is also a big step forward for our team in terms of fundamental physics research, fusion engineering, and project operation and maintenance." ALSO READ | China conducts nuclear fusion experiment for 'artificial sun China developing next-gen 'artificial sun' Chinese scientists have been operating EAST since 2006. The reactor has completed over 120,000 experiments so far. In 2018, breaking another record, the reactor managed to contain plasma for almost 18 minutes with the temperature reaching close to 70 million degrees Celsius. However, it was a different operation mode from the one used during Wednesday's test. Having tasted success already, Beijing is looking to take another giant stride in the field. It has already completed the design of its next-generation artificial sun called Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) which will kick into operations by 2035. WATCH | Is China leading the AI race? Where does India figure in this battle for tech dominance? × Nuclear fusion vs fission Nuclear fusion is considered the holy grail of energy and it is what powers our sun. It merges atomic nuclei to create massive amounts of energy, which is the opposite of the fission process used in atomic weapons and nuclear power plants, which splits them into fragments. Moreover, unlike fission, fusion emits no greenhouse gases and carries less risk of accidents or the theft of atomic material. By mimicking the natural reaction of the sun, scientists are hoping that the technology may help humanity harness vast amounts of energy and help battle the energy crisis ALSO READ | South Korean scientists create an 'artificial sun' in pursuit of unlimited clean energy Last year, scientists working at the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) reactor also created an artificial sun that reached temperatures upward of 100 million degree Celsius for 30 seconds. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China's 'artificial sun' breaches another frontier, sustains plasma for nearly 7 minutes

A little less than a month after scientists working on a nuclear fusion project in the US made a major breakthrough, some not-so-good news has come for other scientists working on a similar international project.

A little less than a month after scientists working on a nuclear fusion project in the US made a major breakthrough, some not-so-good news has come for other scientists working on a similar international project. Pietro Barabaschi, director general of the multi-billion dollar International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project said the previous goal to carry a first operation test to create plasma by 2025 was unrealistic. The date "wasn't realistic in the first place," even before two major problems surfaced, Barabaschi was quoted as saying by AFP. He added that fixing the problems "is not a question of weeks, but months, even years." Earlier, the project had the aim to achieve full fusion power by 2035. However, the delay cited by Barabaschi means that it could be pushed around by another few years. ITER is a joint project between the US, India, China, Japan, the European Union, South Korea and Russia. It was started after a summit between US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985. Despite the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Moscow has managed to keep its end of the bargain connected to the project. The project site is in southern France but the decades-old initiative has been criticised for regularly running into technical challenges and cost overruns. Akin to the scientists in the US, the ITER project aims to prove the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale source of energy for the world. WATCH | Gravitas: Decoding nuclear fusion energy breakthrough × Last month, the scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California said they were successful in generating a fusion reaction between two hydrogen atoms and were also able to maintain the reaction in a controlled environment. At the time, the US government patted its own back and said the breakthrough will help towards finding a renewable energy source that can help the world replace fossil fuels. “Today, we tell the world that America has achieved a tremendous scientific breakthrough ... we invested in our national labs and we invested in fundamental research, and tomorrow will continue for a future that is powered, in part by fusion energy,” said US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Read more: Beyond belief!: US announces historic nuclear fusion breakthrough, but how is it important for us? Nuclear fusion takes place when two or more atoms fuse to create a bigger one and this is the same process that takes place within the sun. It is the inverse of nuclear fission, which occurs when heavy atoms are split apart. Fission is the technology currently used in nuclear power plants, but the process generates a lot of waste that emits radiation for a long time. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

International nuclear fusion energy project faces delays, say scientists

US scientists announced a breakthrough on fusion energy, potentially a step toward one day harnessing the process that fires the sun to generate carbon-free electricity as the world struggles with climate change.

WION Climate Tracker: Can nuclear fusion save our planet?

Scientists in the U.S. have reached a major milestone. They have generated energy using nuclear fusion, a process that only takes place on the Sun. Priyanka Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Decoding nuclear fusion energy breakthrough

US scientists announced a breakthrough on fusion energy on Tuesday, potentially a step toward one day harnessing the process that fires the sun to generate carbon-free electricity as the world struggles with climate change.

WION Climate Tracker: Breakthrough in Nuclear fusion help to fight climate change?

US scientists have successfully produced a nuclear fusion reaction resulting in a net energy gain. Nuclear fusion will reduce dependence on the fossil fuels.

Nuclear fusion energy breakthrough achieved: Reports

The United States Department of Energy announced on Tuesday that scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California were successful in generating a fusion reaction between two hydrogen atoms and were also able to maintain the reaction in a controlled environment. This was a major breakthrough in the field of nuclear fusion and according to CNN, this can lead to a renewable source of energy that can become functional in the future. The announcement came as good news for environmentalists who believe that this form of energy can slowly stop the reliance on fossil fuels.&nbsp;

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"This is a great day," Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said at a news conference in Washington.&nbsp;

“Today, we tell the world that America has achieved a tremendous scientific breakthrough ... we invested in our national labs and we invested in fundamental research, and tomorrow will continue for a future that is powered, in part by fusion energy,” she added according to the Associated Press.&nbsp;

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This was the first time that net energy gain was achieved by nuclear fusion in a controlled environment, according to Reuters. While 2.1 megajoules was used to conduct the experiment, the reaction was able to produce 2.5 megajoules of energy – a first for any experiment. This is somewhat similar to the reaction that takes place inside the sun and as a result, this energy can be valuable in the future.&nbsp;

“On December 5, 2022, a team from DOE’s&nbsp;@Livermore_Lab&nbsp;made history by achieving fusion ignition.” it wrote. “Also known as scientific energy breakeven, the experiment produced more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it,” the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory&nbsp;said on Twitter.&nbsp;

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The United States Department of Energy announced on Tuesday that scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California were successful in generating a fusion reaction between two hydrogen atoms and were also able to maintain the reaction in a controlled environment.

The United States Department of Energy announced on Tuesday that scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California were successful in generating a fusion reaction between two hydrogen atoms and were also able to maintain the reaction in a controlled environment. This was a major breakthrough in the field of nuclear fusion and according to CNN, this can lead to a renewable source of energy that can become functional in the future. The announcement came as good news for environmentalists who believe that this form of energy can slowly stop the reliance on fossil fuels. Also read | Tawang skirmish: Chinese army alleges Indian troops 'illegally' crossed border "This is a great day," Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said at a news conference in Washington. “Today, we tell the world that America has achieved a tremendous scientific breakthrough ... we invested in our national labs and we invested in fundamental research, and tomorrow will continue for a future that is powered, in part by fusion energy,” she added according to the Associated Press. Also read | Ramaphosa survives impeachment vote over corruption scandal in South Africa This was the first time that net energy gain was achieved by nuclear fusion in a controlled environment, according to Reuters. While 2.1 megajoules was used to conduct the experiment, the reaction was able to produce 2.5 megajoules of energy – a first for any experiment. This is somewhat similar to the reaction that takes place inside the sun and as a result, this energy can be valuable in the future. “On December 5, 2022, a team from DOE’s @Livermore_Lab made history by achieving fusion ignition.” it wrote. “Also known as scientific energy breakeven, the experiment produced more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it,” the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory said on Twitter.

'Milestone for clean energy': US announces major nuclear fusion breakthrough

The US State Department of Energy is going to announce a scientific breakthrough later today. This breakthrough can potentially provide a cheap and clean source of electricity and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

WION Climate Tracker: US to reveal fusion energy 'breakthrough'

Scientists were successfully able to control plasma in nuclear fusion experiment by using artificial intelligence.

Nuclear fusion comes from the fusing of two atoms at very high temperatures, which then release energy.

In the study, published in Nature, scientists have recreated these extreme conditions is by using a tokamak, a doughnut-shaped vacuum surrounded by magnetic coils, that is used to contain a plasma of hydrogen that is hotter than the core of the Sun.&nbsp;

However, the plasmas in these machines are inherently unstable, making sustaining the process required for nuclear fusion a complex challenge.

For example, a control system needs to coordinate the tokamak's many magnetic coils and adjust the voltage on them thousands of times per second to ensure the plasma never touches the walls of the vessel, which would result in heat loss and possibly damage.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-conducts-nuclear-fusion-experiment-for-artificial-sun-439314">Also read |&nbsp;China conducts nuclear fusion experiment for 'artificial sun'</a>

To help solve this problem and as part of DeepMind’s mission to advance science, researchers collaborated with the Swiss Plasma Centre at EPFL to develop the first deep reinforcement learning (RL) system to autonomously discover how to control these coils and successfully contain the plasma in a tokamak, opening new avenues to advance nuclear fusion research.

Using a learning architecture that combines deep RL and a simulated environment, they produced controllers that can both keep the plasma steady and be used to accurately sculpt it into different shapes.&nbsp;

This “plasma sculpting” shows the RL system has successfully controlled the superheated matter and - importantly - allows scientists to investigate how the plasma reacts under different conditions, improving our understanding of fusion reactors.

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"This AI is, in my opinion, the only way forward," said physicist Gianluca Sarri from Queen's University Belfast.

"There are so many variables, and a small change in one of them can cause a big change in the final output. If you try to do it manually, it's a very lengthy process."

Scientists have been working for decades to try to develop fusion energy as a viable power source.&nbsp;

Unlike the burning of fossil fuels or the fission process of existing nuclear power plants, fusion offers the prospect of abundant energy without pollution, radioactive waste, or greenhouse gases.

While nuclear fusion could revolutionise energy production, with pilot projects targeting energy output at 10 times the input, no fusion project has up to now created a net energy increase. Critics say commercially viable fusion always remains fifty years in the future.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Scientists were successfully able to control plasma in nuclear fusion experiment by using artificial intelligence. Nuclear fusion comes from the fusing of two atoms at very high temperatures, which then release energy.

Scientists were successfully able to control plasma in nuclear fusion experiment by using artificial intelligence. Nuclear fusion comes from the fusing of two atoms at very high temperatures, which then release energy. In the study, published in Nature, scientists have recreated these extreme conditions is by using a tokamak, a doughnut-shaped vacuum surrounded by magnetic coils, that is used to contain a plasma of hydrogen that is hotter than the core of the Sun. However, the plasmas in these machines are inherently unstable, making sustaining the process required for nuclear fusion a complex challenge. For example, a control system needs to coordinate the tokamak's many magnetic coils and adjust the voltage on them thousands of times per second to ensure the plasma never touches the walls of the vessel, which would result in heat loss and possibly damage. Also read | China conducts nuclear fusion experiment for 'artificial sun' To help solve this problem and as part of DeepMind’s mission to advance science, researchers collaborated with the Swiss Plasma Centre at EPFL to develop the first deep reinforcement learning (RL) system to autonomously discover how to control these coils and successfully contain the plasma in a tokamak, opening new avenues to advance nuclear fusion research. Using a learning architecture that combines deep RL and a simulated environment, they produced controllers that can both keep the plasma steady and be used to accurately sculpt it into different shapes. This “plasma sculpting” shows the RL system has successfully controlled the superheated matter and - importantly - allows scientists to investigate how the plasma reacts under different conditions, improving our understanding of fusion reactors. "This AI is, in my opinion, the only way forward," said physicist Gianluca Sarri from Queen's University Belfast. "There are so many variables, and a small change in one of them can cause a big change in the final output. If you try to do it manually, it's a very lengthy process." Scientists have been working for decades to try to develop fusion energy as a viable power source. Unlike the burning of fossil fuels or the fission process of existing nuclear power plants, fusion offers the prospect of abundant energy without pollution, radioactive waste, or greenhouse gases. While nuclear fusion could revolutionise energy production, with pilot projects targeting energy output at 10 times the input, no fusion project has up to now created a net energy increase. Critics say commercially viable fusion always remains fifty years in the future. (With inputs from agencies)

'Breakthrough in Physics': Artificial Intelligence successfully controls plasma in nuclear fusion experiment

Scientists in Europe have reportedly made a major breakthrough towards achieving practical nuclear fusion, the process that powers the Sun and enables all life on Earth. BBC reported that UK-based JET laboratory has broken its own record in achieving practical nuclear fusion.

As per the report, the laboratory was able to produce energy of 59 megajoules (11 megawatts) over five seconds. This may not sound much but it is more than double the energy that was formed in a test held in the year 1997. And the breakthrough takes us one step closer towards obtaining energy from practical nuclear fusion.

If humans are able to master nuclear fusion, there will be no need to use fossil fuel-based energy sources and even nuclear power. Nuclear fusion energy would become an ideal source of low-carbon, low-radiation energy.

"The JET experiments put us a step closer to fusion power," said Dr Joe Milnes, the head of operations at the reactor lab. "We've demonstrated that we can create a mini star inside of our machine and hold it there for five seconds and get high performance, which really takes us into a new realm." Dr Milnes was quoted by BBC.

Nuclear fusion is a process of fusion of hydrogen atoms that creates helium and energy. This is different than nuclear fission which involves splitting of atoms to release energy. Nuclear fission reaction is involved in atomic bomb explosions and Nuclear power plants. While nuclear fusion reaction takes place in the Sun.

Does the latest breakthrough mean that energy from nuclear fusion can immediately be used to power our factories and vehicles? No. Because large scale, stable production of such energy can reportedly be achieved in few decades.

Scientists in Europe have reportedly made a major breakthrough towards achieving practical nuclear fusion, the process that powers the Sun and enables all life on Earth.

Scientists in Europe have reportedly made a major breakthrough towards achieving practical nuclear fusion, the process that powers the Sun and enables all life on Earth. BBC reported that UK-based JET laboratory has broken its own record in achieving practical nuclear fusion. As per the report, the laboratory was able to produce energy of 59 megajoules (11 megawatts) over five seconds. This may not sound much but it is more than double the energy that was formed in a test held in the year 1997. And the breakthrough takes us one step closer towards obtaining energy from practical nuclear fusion. If humans are able to master nuclear fusion, there will be no need to use fossil fuel-based energy sources and even nuclear power. Nuclear fusion energy would become an ideal source of low-carbon, low-radiation energy. "The JET experiments put us a step closer to fusion power," said Dr Joe Milnes, the head of operations at the reactor lab. "We've demonstrated that we can create a mini star inside of our machine and hold it there for five seconds and get high performance, which really takes us into a new realm." Dr Milnes was quoted by BBC. Nuclear fusion is a process of fusion of hydrogen atoms that creates helium and energy. This is different than nuclear fission which involves splitting of atoms to release energy. Nuclear fission reaction is involved in atomic bomb explosions and Nuclear power plants. While nuclear fusion reaction takes place in the Sun. Does the latest breakthrough mean that energy from nuclear fusion can immediately be used to power our factories and vehicles? No. Because large scale, stable production of such energy can reportedly be achieved in few decades.

Scientists report major breakthrough creating nuclear fusion energy

China has conducted a nuclear fusion experiment towards the advancement of its ''artificial sun.''

The Hefei Institute of Physical Science kicked off the&nbsp;Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST)&nbsp;heating system this month as per state media Xinhua News Agency.

The experiment aims at making the artificial sun or the auxiliary heating system ''hotter'' and more ''durable.''&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-issue-dire-warning-about-suns-instability-after-eruption-of-dragon-star-437437" hreflang="en">Scientists issue dire warning about Sun's instability after eruption of 'Dragon' star</a>

China has already spent around 6 billion yuan ($893 million) on a large doughnut-shaped installation known as a tokamak, which uses extremely high temperatures to boil hydrogen isotopes into a plasma, fusing them together and releasing energy.&nbsp;

If that energy can be utilised, it will require only tiny amounts of fuel and create virtually no radioactive waste.

“Five years from now, we will start to build our fusion reactor, which will need another 10 years of construction. After that is built we will construct the power generator and start generating power by around 2040,” said Song Yuntao, deputy director of the Institute of Plasma Physics at the Hefei Institute of Physical Science.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-discover-trouble-making-nemesis-twin-of-the-sun-435917">Also read |&nbsp;Astronomers discover trouble-making 'nemesis' twin of the Sun</a>

The process of nuclear fusion is replicated in the EAST heating system that became operational in 2006.

It broke a record in June this year when it reached a temperature that is ten times hotter than the sun. It had reached a peak temperature of 160 million degrees Celsius.

China is preparing to restart its stalled domestic nuclear reactor program after a three-year moratorium on new approvals, but at a state laboratory in the city of Hefei, in China’s Anhui province, scientists are looking beyond crude atom-splitting in order to pursue nuclear fusion, where power is generated by combining nuclei together, an endeavor likened by skeptics to “putting the sun in a box”.

China has been researching fusion since 1958, but at the current stage, it is still more about international cooperation than competition, Song said. The country is a member of the 35-nation ITER project, a 10-billion euro ($11.29 billion) fusion project under construction in France.

China is responsible for manufacturing 9 percent of ITER’s components, and is playing a major role in core technologies like magnetic containment, as well as the production of components that can withstand temperatures of over 100 million degrees Celsius (180 million degrees Fahrenheit).

ITER is scheduled to generate first plasma by 2025. A demonstration reactor will then be built, with the aim of creating 500 megawatts of power from just 50 megawatts of input, a tenfold return on energy. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

China has conducted a nuclear fusion experiment towards the advancement of its ''artificial sun.'' The Hefei Institute of Physical Science kicked off the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) heating system this month as per state media Xinhua News Agency.

China has conducted a nuclear fusion experiment towards the advancement of its ''artificial sun.'' The Hefei Institute of Physical Science kicked off the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) heating system this month as per state media Xinhua News Agency. The experiment aims at making the artificial sun or the auxiliary heating system ''hotter'' and more ''durable.'' Also read | Scientists issue dire warning about Sun's instability after eruption of 'Dragon' star China has already spent around 6 billion yuan ($893 million) on a large doughnut-shaped installation known as a tokamak, which uses extremely high temperatures to boil hydrogen isotopes into a plasma, fusing them together and releasing energy. If that energy can be utilised, it will require only tiny amounts of fuel and create virtually no radioactive waste. “Five years from now, we will start to build our fusion reactor, which will need another 10 years of construction. After that is built we will construct the power generator and start generating power by around 2040,” said Song Yuntao, deputy director of the Institute of Plasma Physics at the Hefei Institute of Physical Science. Also read | Astronomers discover trouble-making 'nemesis' twin of the Sun The process of nuclear fusion is replicated in the EAST heating system that became operational in 2006. It broke a record in June this year when it reached a temperature that is ten times hotter than the sun. It had reached a peak temperature of 160 million degrees Celsius. China is preparing to restart its stalled domestic nuclear reactor program after a three-year moratorium on new approvals, but at a state laboratory in the city of Hefei, in China’s Anhui province, scientists are looking beyond crude atom-splitting in order to pursue nuclear fusion, where power is generated by combining nuclei together, an endeavor likened by skeptics to “putting the sun in a box”. China has been researching fusion since 1958, but at the current stage, it is still more about international cooperation than competition, Song said. The country is a member of the 35-nation ITER project, a 10-billion euro ($11.29 billion) fusion project under construction in France. China is responsible for manufacturing 9 percent of ITER’s components, and is playing a major role in core technologies like magnetic containment, as well as the production of components that can withstand temperatures of over 100 million degrees Celsius (180 million degrees Fahrenheit). ITER is scheduled to generate first plasma by 2025. A demonstration reactor will then be built, with the aim of creating 500 megawatts of power from just 50 megawatts of input, a tenfold return on energy. (With inputs from agencies)

China conducts nuclear fusion experiment for 'artificial sun'

Nuclear scientists in California have&nbsp;generated a huge amount of energy from fusion&nbsp;using lasers the size of three football fields.

The historic breakthrough can&nbsp;possibly offer hope for the development of a new clean energy source.

Experts focused their giant array of almost 200 laser beams onto a tiny spot to create a mega blast of energy, eight times more than they had ever done in the past.

Although the energy only lasted for a very short time,&nbsp;just 100 trillionths of a second,&nbsp;it took scientists closer to the holy grail of fusion ignition, the moment when they are creating more energy than they are using.

"This result is a historic advance for inertial confinement fusion research," said Kim Budil, the director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which operates the National Ignition Facility in California, where the experiment took place this month.

Nuclear fusion is considered by some scientists to be the potential energy of the future, particularly because it produces little waste and no greenhouse gases.&nbsp;

It differs from fission, a technique currently used in nuclear power plants, where the bonds of heavy atomic nuclei are broken to release energy.&nbsp;

In the fusion process, two light atomic nuclei are "married" to create a heavy one.

In this experiment scientists used two isotopes of hydrogen, giving rise to helium.&nbsp;

This is the process that is at work in stars, including our Sun.&nbsp;

"The NIF teams have done an extraordinary job," said Professor Steven Rose, co-director of the center for research in this field at Imperial College London.&nbsp;

"This is the most significant advance in inertial fusion since its beginning in 1972."&nbsp;

But, warned Jeremy Chittenden, co-director of the same center in London, making this a useable source of energy is not going to be easy.

"Turning this concept into a renewable source of electrical power will probably be a long process and will involve overcoming significant technical challenges," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Nuclear scientists in California have generated a huge amount of energy from fusion using lasers the size of three football fields. The historic breakthrough can possibly offer hope for the development of a new clean energy source.

Nuclear scientists in California have generated a huge amount of energy from fusion using lasers the size of three football fields. The historic breakthrough can possibly offer hope for the development of a new clean energy source. Experts focused their giant array of almost 200 laser beams onto a tiny spot to create a mega blast of energy, eight times more than they had ever done in the past. Although the energy only lasted for a very short time, just 100 trillionths of a second, it took scientists closer to the holy grail of fusion ignition, the moment when they are creating more energy than they are using. "This result is a historic advance for inertial confinement fusion research," said Kim Budil, the director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which operates the National Ignition Facility in California, where the experiment took place this month. Nuclear fusion is considered by some scientists to be the potential energy of the future, particularly because it produces little waste and no greenhouse gases. It differs from fission, a technique currently used in nuclear power plants, where the bonds of heavy atomic nuclei are broken to release energy. In the fusion process, two light atomic nuclei are "married" to create a heavy one. In this experiment scientists used two isotopes of hydrogen, giving rise to helium. This is the process that is at work in stars, including our Sun. "The NIF teams have done an extraordinary job," said Professor Steven Rose, co-director of the center for research in this field at Imperial College London. "This is the most significant advance in inertial fusion since its beginning in 1972." But, warned Jeremy Chittenden, co-director of the same center in London, making this a useable source of energy is not going to be easy. "Turning this concept into a renewable source of electrical power will probably be a long process and will involve overcoming significant technical challenges," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

New clean energy source? Nuclear scientists hail 'historic' fusion breakthrough

China successfully powered up the HL-2M Tokamak reactor, also known as 'artificial Sun' on Friday, reported state media. The reactor is China's largest and most advances nuclear fusion experimental research device. Scientists are hoping that the device can potentially unlock a powerful clean energy source.

The 'artificial Sun' uses a powerful magnetic field to fuse hot plasma that can attain temperature of 150 million degrees Celsius, said People's Daily. This is ten times hotter than the core of the Sun.

Located in southwestern Sichuan province and completed late last year, the reactor is often called an "artificial sun" on account of the enormous heat and power it produces.

"The development of nuclear fusion energy is not only a way to solve China's strategic energy needs, but also has great significance for the future sustainable development of China's energy and national economy," said the People's Daily.&nbsp;
<img alt="China's 'artificial Sun'" data-caption="China’s HL-2M nuclear fusion device, known as the new generation of &quot;artificial sun&quot;, is displayed at a research laboratory in Chengdu, in eastern China's Sichuan province on December 4, 2020. China successfully powered its &quot;artificial sun&quot; nuclear fusion reactor for the first time, state media reported on December 4, marking a great advance in the country's nuclear power research capabilities." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bf072be9-bfd1-443a-be10-04cb7999a57c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_8WG24E.jpg" />
Chinese scientists have been working on developing smaller versions of the nuclear fusion reactor since 2006.

They plan to use the device in collaboration with scientists working on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor -- the world's largest nuclear fusion research project based in France, which is expected to be completed in 2025.&nbsp;

Fusion is considered the Holy Grail of energy and is what powers our sun.

It merges atomic nuclei to create massive amounts of energy -- the opposite of the fission process used in atomic weapons and nuclear power plants, which splits them into fragments.

Unlike fission, fusion emits no greenhouse gases and carries less risk of accidents or the theft of atomic material.

But achieving fusion is both extremely difficult and prohibitively expensive, with the total cost of ITER estimated at $22.5 billion.

(With AFP inputs)

China successfully powered up the HL-2M Tokamak reactor, also known as 'artificial Sun' on Friday, reported state media. The reactor is China's largest and most advances nuclear fusion experimental research device.

China successfully powered up the HL-2M Tokamak reactor, also known as 'artificial Sun' on Friday, reported state media. The reactor is China's largest and most advances nuclear fusion experimental research device. Scientists are hoping that the device can potentially unlock a powerful clean energy source. The 'artificial Sun' uses a powerful magnetic field to fuse hot plasma that can attain temperature of 150 million degrees Celsius, said People's Daily. This is ten times hotter than the core of the Sun. Located in southwestern Sichuan province and completed late last year, the reactor is often called an "artificial sun" on account of the enormous heat and power it produces. "The development of nuclear fusion energy is not only a way to solve China's strategic energy needs, but also has great significance for the future sustainable development of China's energy and national economy," said the People's Daily. Chinese scientists have been working on developing smaller versions of the nuclear fusion reactor since 2006. They plan to use the device in collaboration with scientists working on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor -- the world's largest nuclear fusion research project based in France, which is expected to be completed in 2025. Fusion is considered the Holy Grail of energy and is what powers our sun. It merges atomic nuclei to create massive amounts of energy -- the opposite of the fission process used in atomic weapons and nuclear power plants, which splits them into fragments. Unlike fission, fusion emits no greenhouse gases and carries less risk of accidents or the theft of atomic material. But achieving fusion is both extremely difficult and prohibitively expensive, with the total cost of ITER estimated at $22.5 billion. (With AFP inputs)

China turns on its nuclear powered 'artificial Sun'

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