US Scientists Broke Their Record For Energy Yield In Thermonuclear Fusion

Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have reported that for the second time in history, they have achieved a net increase in energy in a fusion reaction and were able to obtain a higher energy yield.

Preliminary data indicate more than 3.5 megajoules of energy. It would be enough to power a household iron for an hour.

For the first time, scientists were able to achieve an increase in energy in December last year. They were experimenting with a small bead of hydrogen plasma and the world’s largest laser. They managed to get about 3.15 megajoules of energy, which is 120% higher than the energy used in the laser – 2.1 megajoules. The US Department of Energy said at the time that this was “a major scientific breakthrough that <…> will pave the way for advances in national defense and a clean energy future.”

It is thermonuclear fusion that leads to the release of solar energy and since then humanity has been trying to develop it on its planet. If successful, it will be possible to fight climate change, especially if the technology is brought to a commercial level.