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A Sun Here on Earth?
As we know, the sun produces its energy through nuclear fusion; a process by which atoms are fused together, creating an enormous amount of energy. Up till recently harnessing this power source has seemed to be impossible leaving us with the less efficient way of nuclear energy, nuclear fission.
Researchers at MIT have been looking into the practical uses of nuclear fusion and say that it may not be as unrealistic as you may think; we may even see nuclear fusion reactors in the next few decades! The researchers also gave a tour of their facility and a crash course in nuclear fusion to those that signed up.
Nuclear fusion is achieved when two atoms (usually small atoms such as isotopes of hydrogen) combine, creating a new larger atom of a different element and an enormous amount of energy which comes from some of the converted mass of the original two atoms.
Problems achieving a continuous fusion reaction have made attempts at using this form of power impossible. The labs at the MIT labs are currently the only place that has consistently been able to produce a fusion reaction.
It would seem nuclear fusion will not become a reality for aiding our power struggle, at least not yet. To read more about nuclear fusion and the researchers at MIT, click here.
