Nuclear Fusion’s Bright Future

MARCUS PARTIDA (Editor-in-Chief)

Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California announced a breakthrough in clean energy through nuclear fusion on Dec. 13. The government should continue supporting this research and increase funding as nuclear fusion could be the key to solving the climate crisis.

According to CNN, the laboratory produced a nuclear fusion that resulted in a net energy gain of more than 50%. This is the first time since the beginning of the project in 2009 that more energy was produced than was used to power the fusion. Although it was a net gain, not much energy was produced. According to CNN, only enough energy to boil about 2.5 gallons of water was created. Therefore, the program still has a long way to go before reaching the possibility of large-scale power grids. 

That does not mean that the research was not an important moment in scientific history, however. According to CNN, energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm believes that if fusion energy continues advancing, the world could have a clean energy source to power almost everything ranging from heavy industry to transportation. If more funds are given to this research, scientists could continue their work with even more resources. Once research advances to the point that nuclear fusion could be used everywhere, the planet could become healthier.

Nuclear fusion has the potential to be the solution to the climate crisis. It is a clean, infinite source of energy that could replace fossil fuels and will reduce the need for coal and gas power plants. With nuclear fusion as the primary source of energy, carbon emissions will decrease, which is an important step toward combatting climate change. 

Currently, climate scientists and policymakers understand the urgency of reducing carbon emissions. According to the New York Times, by 2050, the world must reach net-zero emissions to reduce warming to 2 degrees Celsius or less. The goal is not an easy one, which is why it should become a primary focus of funds to help fight global warming. 

The nuclear fusion breakthrough is an important step in clean-energy production. To solve the climate crisis, the government needs to continue supporting and giving even more funds to research. As progress continues, the world gets closer to a cleaner environment and a better world in the future.