Posted on 23 December 2023 by John Hartz

Story of the Week

Scientists successfully replicate historic nuclear fusion breakthrough three times

Scientists in California shooting nearly 200 lasers at a cylinder holding a fuel capsule the size of a peppercorn have taken another step in the quest for fusion energy, which, if mastered, could provide the world with a near-limitless source of clean power.

Last year on a December morning, scientists at the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California (LLNL) managed, in a world first, to produce a nuclear fusion reaction that released more energy than it used, in a process called “ignition.”

Now they say they have successfully replicated ignition at least three times this year, according to a December report from the LLNL. This marks another significant step in what could one day be an important solution to the global climate crisis, driven primarily by the burning of fossil fuels.

For decades, scientists have attempted to harness fusion energy, essentially recreating the power of the sun on Earth.

After making their historic net energy gain last year, the next important step was to prove the process could be replicated.

Brian Appelbe, a research fellow from the Centre for Inertial Fusion Studies at Imperial College London, said the ability to replicate demonstrates the “robustness” of the process, showing it can be achieved even when conditions such as the laser or fuel pellet are varied.

Each experiment also offers an opportunity to study the physics of ignition in detail, Appelbe told CNN. “This provides valuable information to the scientists in addressing the next challenge to be overcome: how to maximize the energy that can be obtained. 

Click here to access the entire article as originally posted on the CNN website.

Scientists successfully replicate historic nuclear fusion breakthrough three times by Laura Paddison , Climate, CNN, Dec 21, 2023

Articles posted on Facebook 

Sunday, Dec 17, 2023

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• The Livestock Industry’s “Climate Neutral” Claims Are Too Good To Be True New research shows how a slew of recent climate pledges are based on incomplete accounting, which downplays the scope of methane pollution by the meat and dairy industries. by Joe Fassler, DeSmog International, Dec 14, 2023
• Deep Argo: Diving for Answers in the Ocean’s Abyss by Caitlyn Kennedy, NOAA's Climate.Gov, Dec 16, 2023
• Was the climate 'better' during the age of the dinosaurs? (More climate “facts” bite the dust.), by Peter Hadfield [Potholer54], YouTube Video, Dec 16, 2023
• Cop28 has finally named fossil fuels as the climate problem. But do leaders have the will to act? The UN summit’s deal heralds the end of coal, oil and gas. The real test is whether producers back it up with action by Adam Morton, Present Tense, Environment, The Guardian, Dec 16, 2023

Monday, Dec 18, 2023

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• Plan to stash planet-heating carbon dioxide under U.S. national forests alarms critics Around 140 groups have called for an extension of public comment period over U.S. Forest Service proposal amid questions about safety and impact. by Pam Radtke, Grist, Dec 17, 2023
• Where Dangerous Heat is Surging by Niko Kommenda, Shannon Osaka, Simon Ducroquet & Veronica Penney, The Human Limit, Climate, Washington Post, Sep 5, 2023
• Thousands of Oil and Gas Wastewater Spills Threaten Property, Groundwater, Wildlife and Livestock Across Texas From the Texon Scar to the Sabine River, produced water spills have impacted soil, contaminated water resources and killed wildlife. But the Railroad Commission of Texas has resisted new regulations. by Martha Pskowski, Fossil Fuels, Inside Climate News, Dec 18, 2023 [Note: This article is  fifth in the State of Denial series about Texas environmental regulators.]

Tuesday, Dec 19, 2023

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• A Mixed Report Card for COP 28 and the Rise of Climate "Delayism", Hosted by Brooke Gladston, Podcast/transcript produced by WNYC Studios, Dec 15, 2023 [Note: This is a segment from WNYC's Dec 15, 2023 show, Climate Delay-ism and the Real Goals of the Book Banning Movement.]
• At a glance - What is causing the increase in atmospheric CO2? by John Mason & Baerbel Winkler, Skeptical Science, Dec 19, 2023
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Wednesday, Dec 20, 2023

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• Carbon Brief journalists discuss COP28’s key outcomes  Two days after the COP28 climate summit concluded on 13 December, Carbon Brief convened its team of specialist journalists to discuss the key outcomes of the two-week event in Dubai. by Multiple Authors, Webinar, Carbon Brief, Dec 19, 2023 
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Thursday, Dec 21, 2023

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• White House announces new steps toward launching its climate corps for young people The American Climate Corps will work across seven federal agencies, with hopes to place its first cohort of young Americans into environmental justice programs next summer. by Lucas Thompson, Climate in Crisis, Top Stories, NBC News, Dec 19, 2023
• Wildfires can unlock cancer-causing chemicals from the soil, new research finds by Rachel Rameriz, Climate, CNN, Dec 19, 2023

Friday, Dec 22, 2023

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• Why COP28 climate summit mattered, and what to watch for in 2024 by Rachel Kytre, The Conversation UK, Dec 20, 2023
• Sea of methane sealed beneath Arctic permafrost could trigger climate feedback loop if it escapes A sea of migrating methane discovered below the permafrost in Svalbard may eventually escape its icy prison if the permafrost continues to thaw due to climate chang. by Sasha Pare, Planet Earth, LiveScience, Dec 20, 2023

Saturday, Dec 23, 2023

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• 12 climate change books to give friends and family over the holidays, From memoirs to history, there’s a book for everyone on your list, Review by Michael Swaboda, Yale Climate Connections, Dec 12, 2023
• Scientists successfully replicate historic nuclear fusion breakthrough three times by Laura Paddison , Climate, CNN, Dec 21, 2023