Nuclear Fusion, a Long Game

Unlike the current practice of

nuclear fission

Reaction that occurs when an unstable nucleus of a heavy atom splits into lighter nuclei — us...

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,

nuclear fusion

Reaction in which two atoms join to form one heavier atom, releasing energy. This is what cre...

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is when two or more light atomic nuclei collide and merge (“fuse”) to form a heavier nucleus. A natural process in the Sun, it is difficult to replicate on Earth. The

International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)

An international project to design and build the first experimental fusion reactor that produ...

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project is working on it, but it will probably take 50 or even 100 years to get there. Or longer.