JAKARTA - For the first time, scientists in the United States (US) have succeeded in producing clean energy in nuclear fusion reactions. It is claimed, this study could help end dependence on fossil fuels.
Scientists over the past few decades have been trying to recreate nuclear fusion, replicating the fusion that powers the Sun. The fusion energy, which generates 120 percent net energy gains, took place at the Lawrence Livemore National Laboratory (LLNL), California, USA, in the last two weeks.
It will represent the first time scientists have managed to produce more energy in fusion reactions than they consumed during the process.
To achieve this, scientists used a process called inertial confinement fusion, firing a tiny ball of hydrogen plasma with an array of nearly 200 of the world's largest lasers, which essentially creates a series of repeated explosions at speeds of 50 times per second.
This is the same nuclear reaction that keeps the Sun and stars on fire, creating energy by uniting atoms.
In contrast to today's nuclear power plants, nuclear fusion is an almost unlimited source of clean energy, does not produce carbon, radioactive waste is left behind, and can provide home electric sources for hundreds of years, even combating global warming.
But now it can only be produced in experiments because it has proven to be difficult to exploit. However, with fuel prices on the rise and a cost of living crisis, it could be a safe and clean alternative energy source, possibly available in the near future.
For information quoted from Metro, Tuesday, December 13, last year Chinese scientists have set up artificial suns that hit a record 160 million degrees Celsius. It's ten times hotter than the Sun in the universe.
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