Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is the process by which atomic nuclei combine to release enormous amounts of energy, powering the Sun and representing a promising, though still developing, potential source of clean energy on Earth.
Powering every star in the universe including our own Sun, this process of combining atomic nuclei has long been pursued as a potential source of nearly limitless clean energy here on Earth, though practical implementation remains elusive.
Powering the Stars
Nuclear fusion is the process that powers the Sun and all other stars, in which hydrogen nuclei combine under extreme pressure and temperature to form helium, releasing enormous amounts of energy.
A Different Process Than Fission
Fusion differs fundamentally from nuclear fission, the process used in current nuclear power plants, by combining rather than splitting atomic nuclei, and producing significantly less long-lived radioactive waste.
The Pursuit of Fusion Energy
Scientists have pursued controlled fusion energy for decades as a potential source of abundant, clean power, though achieving a sustained, net-positive energy reaction has proven an immense engineering challenge.
Recent Progress
Recent experimental breakthroughs, including achieving net energy gain in laboratory fusion reactions, have renewed optimism about fusion's long-term potential as a future clean energy source.
