Scientists announced on Dec. 13 that they had achieved a major scientific breakthrough: They were able to reproduce the power of the sun in a laboratory through nuclear fusion.
The Times reports:
The breakthrough is a huge step toward a long-held dream, one that has captured the world’s collective imagination: The ability to mimic the way the sun generates the energy that sustains life on Earth, and to control that process for the good of humankind.
The achievement, at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, “will go down in the history books,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm at a news conference Tuesday.
It was hailed as a milestone on the path toward a future of nearly limitless, emissions-free power, though there is still a question of when, and whether, fusion can become available on a widespread, practical scale.
What is your reaction to this news? What questions do you have about it?
What, in your opinion, has been the most important scientific discovery, invention or achievement of all time? Why? How has it changed the world and your own life? What other scientific breakthroughs would you like to see in your lifetime?
Tell us in the comments, then read more about the science behind fusion and what it could mean for the climate.
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.
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