illuminating science

Sorry it’s been a couple of days since I posted - I go overseas Friday, and things are pretty crazy at the moment!
New Scientist is running a story which comments on the politics of nuclear fusion. Research is very much alive with several countries working towards building the first sustainable (and hopefully profitable!) nuclear fusion reactor, called ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor). Unfortunately, the countries involved are still arguing about were the reactor is to be built!

Nuclear fusion refers the process by which the sun generates energy. Protons are fused together to create helium, in the process releasing huge amounts of energy. This is very different to nuclear fission where large atoms (uranium, etc) are split apart. This also releases energy, but has the downside of creating dangerous nuclear waste.

Why don’t we all use fusion? The problem is that to get it working, you basically need to build a star - huge pressures and very high temperatures. This is very hard to do. Cold fusion, where we can produce fusion at room temperature, has been much sought after by science fiction writers, but isn’t generally thought to be obtainable. But you never know…

To host a viable nuclear fusion reactor would give you a clean, renewable energy source, so both Japan and France are very keen to have it. One can only hope that the group can come to a decision, and finally build it. We could sure use some clean energy about now.

Update: More at Physics Today.