Nuclear fusion may still be decades away, but the latest breakthrough could speed up its development
Nuclear fusion holds huge promise as a source of clean, abundant energy that could power the world.
Now, fusion researchers at a national laboratory in the US have achieved something physicists have been working towards for decades, a process known as "ignition". This step involves getting more energy out from fusion reactions than is put in by a laser.
But just how close are we to producing energy from fusion that can power people's homes? While ignition is only a proof of principle and a first step in a very long process, other developments are also in the works and together they could spark renewed enthusiasm for making fusion a practical reality.
First it's important to recognize that the latest result is indeed a real milestone. The researchers at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California fired the world's biggest laser at a capsule filled with hydrogen fuel, causing it to implode and starting fusion reactions that mimic what happens in the Sun.
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