US announces historic nuclear fusion breakthrough

Tags: Science and Technology International News

US researchers announced a historic nuclear fusion breakthrough on December 13, marking a "landmark achievement" toward a source of unlimited, clean energy and an end to dependence on fossil fuels. 

Important facts

• This breakthrough in nuclear fusion could bring unlimited clean energy and could help in the fight against climate change.

• For the first time in history, American scientists have carried out a nuclear fusion reaction at the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, USA, due to which pure energy (carbon free energy) was produced just like the Sun.

• According to scientists, if everything goes right, America's dependence on fossil energy like gas, petrol and diesel can be reduced.

What is Nuclear fusion?

• Nuclear fusion is the process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a single heavier one while releasing massive amounts of energy.

• It is the process that powers the Sun and other stars. This light works by taking pairs of atoms and forcing them together and generates enormous amounts of energy.