Nuclear hope for clean energy

Chances grow for new clean energy - 16th January 2023

Scientists have moved one step closer towards making clean energy. After years of research, a recent experiment in nuclear fusion was successful.

Scientists at America's National Ignition Facility, California heated hydrogen atoms. These were placed in a small box or 'capsule'. The experts used lasers to make the capsule hot. The heat made the atoms fuse together, so they became one. The process produced 50 percent more energy than it needed during the experiment. This was seen as a huge success – it's the first time it's happened.

In nuclear power stations, atoms are divided, not joined, to produce energy in nuclear 'fission'. But nuclear fission gives off radioactive waste. This is a problem for the environment. Nuclear fusion doesn't produce waste. It could be science's answer to climate change.

The experiment produced a tiny amount of energy. For a power station, lasers would have to work 10 times per second. In the experiment, they worked just once a day.

Justin Wark's a physics professor from Oxford University. He said that after this success 'everything changes' but also that 'nothing changes'.

It's just the start of a long journey. But at the end, we could have huge amounts of clean energy.