What is fusion used for today?

Today: fusion power. Fusion energy, simply, is the exact opposite of fission energy, which comes from splitting an atom and is widely used to power nuclear plants and weapons. Fusion occurs constantly on our sun, which produces most of its energy via the nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium.

How is fusion used in everyday life?

The main application for fusion is in making electricity. Nuclear fusion can provide a safe, clean energy source for future generations with several advantages over current fission reactors: Most fusion reactors make less radiation than the natural background radiation we live with in our daily lives.

Where is fusion used as a source of power?

the Sun
Fusion powers the Sun and stars as hydrogen atoms fuse together to form helium, and matter is converted into energy. Hydrogen, heated to very high temperatures changes from a gas to a plasma in which the negatively-charged electrons are separated from the positively-charged atomic nuclei (ions).

What countries are working on fusion?

The US, China and Russia are working on a fusion project which could transform energy. At a research facility in the south of France, 35 countries, including the U.S., China and Russia, are working together on a project that could transform the way we think about energy.

Where is nuclear fission used?

All nuclear power plants use nuclear fission, and most nuclear power plants use uranium atoms. During nuclear fission, a neutron collides with a uranium atom and splits it, releasing a large amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation.

What are some examples of fusion?

For example, hydrogen nuclei fuse in stars to form the element helium. Fusion is also used to force together atomic nuclei to form the newest elements on the periodic table. While fusion occurs in nature, it’s in stars, not on Earth. Fusion on Earth only occurs in labs and weapons.

How many countries have fusion reactors?

As of 2021, the record for energy production using nuclear fusion is held by the National Ignition Facility reactor, which achieved a Q of 0.70 in August 2021….Others: