Ahead of the Sunday (local time) announcement, several media outlets had previously reported that scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) had for the first time managed to use an experimental fusion reactor to generate more energy than was consumed during the process.
The British “Financial Times” reported on Sunday a “net energy gain” of 120 percent, citing three of the survey respondents. The Washington Post also covered the alleged breakthrough, quoting a fusion scientist: “For most of us, it was just a matter of time.”
The US Department of Energy and the lab initially did not want to confirm the reports because “analysis was still ongoing”. But on Tuesday, they announced a statement from the minister.
Alternatively, nuclear fusion
In nuclear fusion, atomic nuclei fuse together at extreme temperatures. A tremendous amount of energy is released in this process. Conventional nuclear power plants generate energy from the fission of the atomic nucleus.
To bring about nuclear fusion, a significant amount of energy is required. According to its supporters, nuclear fusion may eventually become an alternative to burning fossil fuels and controversial nuclear fission. Although dozens of experimental reactors have been built since the 1950s, none have been able to produce more energy than is required for the process. (SDA)