Fusion breakthrough

The Independent Climate Newsletter

SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE December 16, 2022 View in browser At a laboratory on the outskirts of San Francisco, a breakthrough took place shortly after 1am on 5th December.    Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNF) took a historic step forward in nuclear fusion power by achieving a net energy gain for the first time.   It unlocks the possibility of near-limitless clean energy in the future, dubbed the "holy grail" as it needs no fossil fuels (just elements available in sea water) and leaves behind no hazardous waste. A technician working at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California (Damien Jemison/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory via AP) For the past seventy years, thousands of scientists and engineers have worked on fusing atoms together in an attempt to replicate the energy process that powers the sun. It is an enormously complex, and expensive, undertaking due to the high temperatures and pressures involved.   The team at LLNL's National Ignition Facility (NIF) was the first ever to produce more energy in a fusion reaction than was used to ignite it. The test involved bombarding a pellet of hydrogen plasma with the world's largest laser.   Scientists heralded the achievement but said decades more work was needed before inertial fusion energy (or IFE) could be powering our everyday lives.   LLNL director Dr Kim Budil said this week that there are "very significant hurdles" to overcome in both science and technology before reaching commercial nuclear fusion. However Dr Budil said that it could happen in a "few" decades as opposed to 60 or 70 years as had previously been believed.   "The pursuit of fusion ignition in the laboratory is one of the most significant scientific challenges ever tackled by humanity, and achieving it is a triumph of science, engineering, and most of all, people," she said.   Read more QUOTE OF THE WEEK "Coal is not exactly the direction that the world is trying to move in, or needs to move in." US presidential climate envoy John Kerry on the UK government's plans for a new coal mine   What you might have missed UN biodiversity summit 'could help avoid mass extinction event' Light can destroy cancer-causing 'forever chemicals' in drinking water Scientists are worried about the number of insects splattered on car license plates Extreme cold increases risk of death for those with heart problems Nothing says 'backwards Brexit Britain' better than a new coal mine Enjoying this newsletter? Unlock unlimited, ad-free reading on the website and in The Independent app when you subscribe – plus, benefit from our welcome offer when you join today. CARBON COUNTER 418.17 Parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere on December 14, 2022 (Find out more at source: NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory) Changemakers 'Cancer road': A Ford factory dumped toxic sludge on tribal land. Years later, it's still making people sick IndyBest/Best Eco Buy How to keep warm without turning the heating on In the face of the cost-of-living crisis, we share the cold-busting methods to try. Click here for the story We noticed that you might not be registered By registering, you will enjoy limited access to Independent Premium articles, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists REGISTER FOR FREE Green living Amazon's plastic packaging could circle the planet 800 times. Can it be stopped? Articles available exclusively to subscribers A bird's life: Welcome to the treehouse hotel immersing guests in an avian world OTHER NEWSLETTERS YOU MIGHT LIKE Independent Women Every Thursday, 8am (UK time) Written by Maya Oppenheim Join now The Race Report Fortnightly, 6pm (UK time) Written by Nadine White Join now If you can spare a minute we'd love your feedback on our newsletters. Join the conversation or follow us Please do not reply directly to this email.   You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Climate email. Add us to your safe list of senders.   If you do not want to receive The Independent's Climate email, please unsubscribe. If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails fromThe Independent, you can unsubscribe here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our privacy notice and cookie policy.