

To achieve a fusion reaction here on terra firma, a famously flammable planet, scientists have to replicate a plasma environment in a contained setting. Jane Austen understood the power of nuclear fusion before we even realized what it was. the extreme heat - helps our couple overcome their distaste for one another and join together to create a beautiful pair and massive amount of energy. So basically, your classic enemies-to-lovers storyline, complete with the initial bad first impression that, with time and context - a.k.a. To add another degree of complication, the atoms must overcome "their mutual electrical repulsion" to one another to complete the fusion process. of our favorite ball of light in the sky.
#NUCLEAR FUSION AND FISSION COMPARE AND CONTRAST FREE#
To successfully complete a fusion reaction, the atoms (one a light hydrogen, the other a denser helium) must be in a state of matter called plasma - a hot (think around 10 million degrees Celsius), gassy environment of positive ions and free ranging electrons - exactly the M.O. What is nuclear fusion?Īccording to the International Atomic Energy Agency, nuclear fusion is "the process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a single heavier one while releasing massive amounts of energy." Stars, like our solar system’s sun, are powered by this process. I know it's the first edition of the year and I could shower you with all of the climate tech trends I’m excited about in 2023, but instead, I’d rather go over what nuclear fusion is, examine the factors that catalyzed the 2022 breakthrough and break down the actual timeline for harnessing energy from nuclear fusion for humankind.

Remember at the end of 2022 when the internet collectively melted down (dark humor alert) about the first successful nuclear fusion reaction? The general consensus appeared to be that the potential for renewable, net-zero energy was on the horizon at last, here to finally quiet the endless conversations about the feasibility of long-term renewable energy storage, the pricing of solar and wind, and the longevity of fossil fuels.
