For decades, nuclear power has relied on fission—splitting atoms apart to release energy. It’s effective, but it comes with radioactive waste and safety risks. Fusion, on the other hand, works by fusing atomic nuclei together, mimicking the process that powers the sun. It promises clean, nearly limitless energy, but there’s a catch: it requires temperatures of over 100 million degrees Celsius to sustain.
Now, French scientists have set a new record, maintaining superheated plasma for 22 minutes—an important step toward making fusion viable. But challenges remain, and the race to harness star power is far from over.
