Scientists in UK set fusion record
Nuclear fusion is the same process that the sun uses to generate heat. Proponents believe it could one day help tackle climate change by providing an abundant, safe and clean source of energy.
A team at the JET facility near Oxford in central England generated 69 megajoules for five seconds using 0.2 milligrams of fuel, beating its previous record set in 2022 by 10 megajoules, the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) said.
"JET has operated as close to power-plant conditions as is possible with today's facilities, and its legacy will be pervasive in all future powerplants," said Ian Chapman, UKAEA CEO.
"JET's research findings have critical implications not only for ITER -- a fusion research mega-project being built in the south of France -- but also for ... other global fusion projects, pursuing a future of safe, low-carbon, and sustainable energy," he added.
Over 300 scientists and engineers from EUROfusion, a consortium of researchers across Europe, contributed to JET's landmark experiments over 40 years.
