By Ryan Wolfe
March 2025
It was reported on January 20, 2025, that China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) device conducted a nuclear fusion test lasting up to 1,066 seconds. This is a massive breakthrough in the race to create unlimited energy for the masses. Greenhouse gas emissions have been destroying our planet since the Industrial Revolution. This test could inspire hope for future generations by showing that we can develop the ultimate power source for all of humanity. However, researchers have noted that the process of harnessing nuclear fusion on a large scale is still decades away.
But what is nuclear fusion? It’s the process of two hydrogen atoms combining to create vast amounts of energy. The sun and other stars throughout the universe use this process to create energy and heat for their surrounding planets. It is a self-sustaining process, capable of regenerating itself for billions of years. The fourth state of matter, plasma, is the crucial resource required to sustain and operate for millennia, as it makes up 99% of the known universe.
However, there may be some roadblocks when it comes to nuclear fusion. For starters, the infrastructure to build the fusion reactors will cost billions of dollars and may require partnerships with private companies. If proper funding is secured, the issue of sustaining the infrastructure will be a tall task. When the two atoms fuse, they will heat up to 180,000,000 degrees Fahrenheit, so the technology will need to be able to endure that heat for long periods of time. In addition, containing radioactive elements is another issue to address when it comes to fusion reactors, especially the large amount of tritium needed to fuel the reactor. Because tritium is made from lithium, the reactor will need hundreds of grams of tritium to operate.
The long-term benefits of nuclear fusion energy could save our planet and steer us away from toxic greenhouse gases. With production and research in mind, the first tests of long-sustaining reactors aren’t going to happen until the 2040 timeframe. Nuclear fusion is no simple task, and more attention should be brought to it as technology progresses and develops. Preventive measures to mitigate long-term damage to the Earth need to remain in place until the large-scale manufacturing of fusion reactors is established within the next 20-30 years. While speaking at a TED Talk, Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, mentioned that we want to avoid certain “tipping points” when it comes to climate change, as any slight increase in temperature could lead to devastating effects by the 22nd century (14:52).
Obviously, we could invest in solar and wind to provide some breathing room when it comes to energy cleanliness and efficiency. Electric vehicles still rely on precious metals and retain some loose connections to fossil fuels, so cleaner uses of energy must be kept in mind. Nuclear fusion technology could be the key to a better future, so why not take the risk?
Imagine, sometime in the near future we could drive cars or fly planes without the worry of dumping enormous amounts of dirty fuel into the air. Fusion could change everyone’s lives for the better! This could lead to an end to conflicts over fuel and energy if nations agree to the use of fusion in our everyday lives. Fusion could assist in cleaning our water of harmful bacteria and chemicals. Both industry and agriculture across the world could benefit significantly from fusion, providing warmth and coolness in extreme environments. Just think about all the possibilities for humans as a collective if we could achieve ultimate energy through fusion.
It won’t be easy or quick, but it could change the world for the better, especially if the right minds and the proper resources are put into such projects related to fusion. The positive outlook on this technology outweighs any negative possibilities if done right. The reactors will be large and consuming, but over time they will shrink and move with ease as technology progresses. It is essential to be mindful of ourselves and understand what we are capable of. We cannot let loose cannons prevail and curb an improved future for this world.