--- title: "A Revolution in Fusion Energy? American Scientists Are Expecting A Major Announcement" description: "The development of fusion power may have hit a significant milestone thanks to US experts." author: "Muskan Singh" published: 2022-12-12 canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/news/2544/a-revolution-in-fusion-energy-american-scientists-are-expecting-a-major-announcement category: "science" tags: ["technology", "technology news", "science and technology", "research"] reading_time: 2 minutes --- # A Revolution in Fusion Energy? American Scientists Are Expecting A Major Announcement - This Tuesday, scientists plan to make a significant discovery regarding [fusion energy](https://www.mindstick.com/news/2594/understanding-what-the-breakthrough-in-fusion-energy-really-means). - The [development](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/65309/importance-of-ux-design-in-the-development-of-mobile-apps) of fusion power may have hit a significant milestone thanks to US experts. According to a Financial Times report, researchers at **Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory may have generated even more energy than was used in a recent experiment**, marking a spectacular new high point for fusion processes. According to the article, [**researchers**](https://www.mindstick.com/news/2505/researchers-explain-blood-clotting-following-covid-19-immunization) are still analysing the data but scientists 'with knowledge of early results from a recent experiment' have shared the findings. On Tuesday, December 13, LLNL is slated to make a significant announcement. At around 7 a.m. PT, the [Department of Energy](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/106125/how-does-the-department-of-energy-function) is anticipated to livestream it. Nearly 200 lasers are fired directly at a tiny hydrogen capsule as part of the 'inertial confinement fusion' experiment carried out at the National Ignition Facility. **Nathan Garland, a physicist from Griffith [University](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/188407/the-north-south-divide-university-cost-comparison) in Australia, claims that the lasers form a plasma bubble surrounding the capsule that ultimately ignites an implosion,** creating the conditions necessary for fusion reactions to occur. Our sun's fusion reaction, which is powered by the collision of two heavy atoms, produces energy. [Extreme heat](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/87079/earth-is-facing-extreme-heat-shows-years-of-data-could-be-very-dangerous) and pressure are needed for this, but Garland emphasised that simulating the conditions in a lab would be 'very challenging.' Significantly, no carbon is liberated during the tremendous amount of energy that is created when the two atoms combine. Contrary to [nuclear power](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/100347/which-country-has-recently-launched-the-world-s-first-floating-nuclear-power-plant) plants' use of the fission [**process**](https://www.mindstick.com/news/2481/researchers-in-russia-unearth-a-48-500-year-old-zombie-virus), which involves dividing atoms, fusion produces no radioactive waste and carries no threat of meltdown. In other words, fusion power would revolutionise energy if we could harness it and provide [clean energy](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/112828/how-are-community-owned-renewable-energy-projects-democratizing-access-to-clean-energy) without adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. If [social media](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/13056/how-to-leverage-social-media-to-attract-lots-of-blog-traffic) rumours and the FT report are accurate, researchers at LLNL may have achieved '**fusion energy gain,' which is represented by the letter Q. If Q > 1 in a fusion experiment, then we are on the verge of a real energy breakthrough**, one that scientists have long hoped to achieve. If accurate, it's a significant problem for sure, Garland added. --- Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/news/2544/a-revolution-in-fusion-energy-american-scientists-are-expecting-a-major-announcement Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.