Thinking ahead – fusion energy for the 21st century?
Further reading
August 2007, pages 33-35
Turbulent problems for fusion energy
Looks at development towards efficient fusion reactors.
November-December 2005, pages 17-20
Nuclear fusion: The future of energy production (by Matthew Hole and Ben Powell)
Argues that Australia should be involved in the international fusion reactor project.
April/May 2010, page 10
Clean power from fusion now one step closer (by Kerensa McElroy)
Reports on the successful replication of the temperatures and pressures needed for fusion to occur.
24 February 2009
Fission-fusion hybrid mops up nuclear waste (by Melanie Macfarlane)
Reports on a system designed to use nuclear fusion to break down the waste from nuclear fission power plants.
December 2006, pages 41-44
Fusion power: The philosopher’s stone of science (by Matthew Hole, Ben Powell and John O’Connor)
Looks at recent developments in nuclear fusion research.
5 May 2007, pages 32-34
Cold fusion – hot news again? (by Bennett Daviss)
Reports on a study which provides evidence that nuclear fission reactions can take place at room temperature.
27 May 2006, page 11
How to protect fusion reactors from flare-ups (by Kurt Kleiner)
Reports on a new way to protect the inside of reactor vessels from super-hot plasma.
24 May 2006
Gigantic fusion reactor gets the green light (by Will Knight and AFP)
Reports on the signing of the official agreement between participating nations.
9 March 2006
No future for fusion power, says top scientist (by David L Chandler)
A prominent scientist argues that fusion will never be a practical source of electrical power.
12 November 2005, pages 52-55
The great fusion experiment (by Karl Schneider)
Looks at the possibility of Japan hosting the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility to test potential reactor materials.
28 June 2005
Biggest nuclear fusion project goes to France
Reports on the confirmation that France will be the site of the latest nuclear fusion reactor.
26 May 2005
US funding of fusion reactor in doubt (by Maggie McKee)
Looks at the possibility of the US pulling out of the ITER project.
March 2006
Fusion: The way ahead (by Richard Pitts, Richard Buttery and Simon Pinches)
Describes how the Joint European Torus in the UK is playing a role in ensuring ITER can demonstrate the feasibility of fusion power.
May 2006
Nuclear fusion
Looks at the progress of operations and the scientific and technological challenges ITER will face.
March 2010, pages 34-41
Fusion’s false dawn (by Michael Moyer)
Describes international trials to produce energy from fusion of hydrogen isotopes, and the challenges of making fusion a viable source of energy.
September 2006, pages 78-87
Plan B for energy (by W Wayt Gibbs)
Considers possible new technologies to meet future energy needs, including nuclear fusion.
28 February 2005
Back to square one (by Charles Q Choi)
Reports that a US government review repeats previous conclusions about cold fusion research.
6 March 2002
Tabletop nuclear fusion claims meet with skepticism (by Sarah Graham)
Looks at the continuing saga of bubble fusion research.
September 2005
E=mc2 explained
Looks at the underlying concepts of the famous equation.
Page updated May 2010.