[The UK-based JET laboratory has smashed
its own world record for the amount
of energy it can extract by squeezing
together two forms of hydrogen.
If nuclear fusion can be successfully
recreated on Earth it holds out the
potential of virtually unlimited supplies
of low-carbon, low-radiation energy.
The experiments produced 59 megajoules
of energy over five seconds (11 megawatts of power).
This is more than double what was
achieved in similar tests back in 1997.
It's not a massive energy output - only enough
to boil about 60 kettles' worth of water.
But the significance is that it validates design
choices that have been made for an
even bigger fusion reactor now being
constructed in France.
"The JET experiments put us a step
closer to fusion power," said Dr Joe Milnes,
the head of operations at the reactor lab.
"We've demonstrated that we
can create a mini star inside of
our machine and hold it there
for five seconds and get high performance,
which really takes us into a new realm."]
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60312633