Connect with us

Published

on

Nuclear fusion holds huge promise as a source of clean, abundant energy that could power the world. Now, fusion researchers at a national laboratory in the US have achieved something physicists have been working towards for decades, a process known as “ignition”.

This step involves getting more energy out from fusion reactions than is put in by a laser.

But just how close are we to producing energy from fusion that can power people’s homes? While the ignition is only a proof of principle and the first step in a very long process, other developments are also in the works and together they could spark renewed enthusiasm for making fusion a practical reality.

First, it’s important to recognise that the latest result is indeed a real milestone.

The researchers at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California fired the world’s biggest laser at a capsule filled with hydrogen fuel, causing it to implode and starting fusion reactions that mimic what happens in the Sun.

The fusion energy released by the implosion was more than that put in by the laser, a massive achievement given that, just a few years ago, the NIF laser could only get out about a thousandth of the energy it put in.

However, around 10,000 times more energy had to be put into the laser than it produced in light energy.

It can only be run once a day. And every target is so exquisitely designed that each one costs thousands of dollars.

To produce a reactor for a working power station, you would need a laser that produced light energy at much greater efficiency (a few tens of percent) and shot targets successfully at ten times per second, with each target costing a few pence or so.

In addition, each laser shot would need to produce many times – perhaps 100 times – more energy out than was put in.

Very little research has actually been done on fusion “reactors”, where neutrons from the reactions would help drive a steam turbine to produce electricity. But there are other reasons for hope.

Firstly, while NIF has taken more than a decade to achieve ignition, during the same period, scientists have independently developed new lasers.

These use electronic devices called diodes to transfer energy to the laser and are very, very efficient, converting a good fraction of the electricity from the grid into laser light.

Prototype versions of such lasers have been proven to work at the rates of 10 times per second, which would be required for them to be useful in fusion.

These lasers are not yet of the size needed for fusion, but the technology is proven, and the UK leads in this type of research.

Also, the approach to fusion used by the scientists at NIF has some well-known, inherent inefficiencies, and there are several other ideas that could be much more effective.

Nobody is absolutely certain that these other ideas would work, as they have their own unique problems, and have never been tried at scale.

To do so would require hundreds of millions of dollars of investment for each of them with no guarantee of success (otherwise it would not be research).

However, there is now a wind of change blowing: the private sector.

Various funds with a very long-term outlook have started to invest in new start-up firms that are touting fusion as a commercially viable source of energy.

Given that it was private industry that has revolutionised the electric car market (and the rocket industry), maybe that sector could also give fusion the “kick” it requires.

Private firms can work a lot faster than governments, and pivot quickly to adopt new ideas when required.

Estimates of the total private funding in the sector now stand in excess of $2 billion (roughly Rs. 16,500 crore), peanuts compared with the $2 trillion (roughly Rs. 165 lakh crore) in revenue produced by the oil and gas industry each year.

There is still a lot of room in the marketplace for the high-risk, high-pay-off players.

The latest results show that the basic science works: the laws of physics do not prevent us from achieving the goal of unlimited clean energy from fusion.

The problems are technical and economic. While fusion may be too far off to solve matters on the timescale of a decade or two, the latest advance will at least bolster enthusiasm about solving one of humanity’s grand challenges.


Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

Continue Reading

Science

Scientists Revive Dire Wolves Using Ancient DNA and Modern Gene Editing

Published

on

By

Scientists Revive Dire Wolves Using Ancient DNA and Modern Gene Editing

Three live dire wolf pups have been born using reconstructed DNA. The extinct species had last roamed North America around 12,500 years ago. The milestone was reached by a Dallas-based biotech firm that focuses on genetic conservation. Ancient DNA samples from fossilised remains were analysed. Modern gene-editing tools were used to mimic key characteristics of the extinct predator. These pups were brought to life by implanting modified embryos into domestic dog surrogates. The young wolves have been named Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi.

Ancient DNA edited in lab to recreate species

According to a study shared by Colossal Biosciences, DNA samples had been collected from two ancient dire wolf fossils. One was a 13,000-year-old tooth, while the other was a 72,000-year-old skull fragment. These fragments were compared to modern wolf relatives and grey wolves were chosen for DNA alteration because of their evolutionary proximity. Gene sequences that were found only in dire wolves were isolated. These were introduced into the DNA of grey wolves through targeted editing.

Cloning technique used to implant embryos

The altered genetic material was inserted into grey wolf egg cells after removing their original nuclei. These prepared cells were placed inside domestic dogs. Each surrogate received multiple embryos. Interestingly, only one embryo survived in each of the first two dogs. Both gave birth by caesarean section, while the third pup was born in a second round of implantation.

Physical traits match fossil record

The new pups have been observed to develop features consistent with known dire wolf fossils. Thick white coats, larger teeth and body structure have been reported. These results came from identifying changes in 14 genes. The gene edits were introduced using CRISPR technology.

The same company had previously cloned red wolves. The team had also created “woolly mice” as part of a mammoth revival effort. The successful dire wolf birth marks a new phase in gene-driven species restoration.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


Redmi Watch Move India Launch Set for April 21; Design, Key Features Teased



Vivo X200s Colour Options Teased; Tipped to Get 6,200mAh Battery, IP68/IP69 Rating

Continue Reading

Science

Panama Tree Shocks Scientists With Lightning-Based Defense

Published

on

By

Panama Tree Shocks Scientists With Lightning-Based Defense

Lightning is commonly considered a sign of disaster in the forest, as lightning kills or damages trees. On the lowlands of Panama, the tonka bean tree (Dipteryx oleifera) might have evolved to capitalize on this natural occurrence. New research suggests that lightning strikes could help the tonka bean tree (Dipteryx oleifera). According to Live Science research, these trees not only survive these electrical interactions unharmed, but the lightning also harms their competitors and the parasitic vines that cling to the tonka bean plants.

The researchers published their findings on March 26 in the journal New Phytologist. Lightning is a major cause of tree mortality in tropical forests, particularly among the largest and oldest trees, which play important roles in carbon storage and biodiversity.

Lightning as a Canopy Weapon

On average, each lightning hit destroyed over 2.4 tons (2 metric tons) of adjacent tree biomass and approximately 80 percent of the lianas (parasitic vines) that plagued the tonka bean canopy. As per Gora’s assumption, the key to these trees’ lightning resistance comes from their physical structure.

A few studies describe the tree as having strong internal conductivity, letting lightning current flow through without building up damaging heat like a well-insulated wire. Because they tend to grow large — up to 130 feet (40 meters)—and live for centuries, a single tonka bean tree is estimated to be struck at least five times after reaching maturity. Each strike helps to clear out vines and competitors, opening up the canopy to help it thrive.

Ecological Impact and Evolutionary Marvel

Gregory Moore, a horticulturalist from the University of Melbourne who was not involved in the study, thinks the results will apply to other species. “The sort of work could also apply to other tree-dominated plant communities, such as woodlands or low woodlands where trees are widely separated, so it’s nothing like a tropical forest,” he said, adding that other tall trees are also possible targets of lightning strikes.

More Than Just a Tree

“We have long known that some trees can withstand multiple lightning strikes,” Moore said, noting that some tall trees survive Australian bushfires and grow up towering over their neighbors, making them prime targets for lightning strikes. “They are often referred to as stags because the top of the crown has been blown out, but they can survive for centuries after being hit by lightning,” he added.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


Google NotebookLM App Is Coming Soon, Company Confirms



EU Decisions on Alleged Apple, Meta Tech Rule Breaches Due in Coming Weeks, Antitrust Chief Says

Continue Reading

Science

NASA’s Jonny Kim Heads to Space With Russian Crew on Soyuz MS-27

Published

on

By

NASA’s Jonny Kim Heads to Space With Russian Crew on Soyuz MS-27

On April 8, 2025, an American-Russian crew launched a combined spaceflight mission early Tuesday. The Soyuz MS-27 was launched from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome. NASA astronaut Dr. Jonny Kim, a former U.S. Navy SEAL and doctor, along with Russian cosmonauts Alexey Zubritsky and Sergey Ryzhikov are the part of the crew. In what will be Kim’s maiden voyage, the spacecraft blasted off on a Soyuz 2.1a rocket at 1:47 a.m. EDT and will spend eight months on board the ISS.

Soyuz MS-27 docks after brief orbital journey

According to NASA’s official launch briefing, the Soyuz MS-27 capsule is scheduled to finish a two-orbit approach before docking with the ISS’s Prichal module at around 5:04 a.m. EDT. The crew will join Commander Alexey Ovchinin’s Expedition 72 after a successful docking and hatch opening. Currently, a combination of Japanese, American and Russian astronauts are stationed there.

Expanded crew to support multiple mission objectives

As outlined by Roscosmos and NASA mission updates, the three new arrivals, namely, Ryzhikov, Zubritsky, and Kim, will support various science experiments, maintenance tasks, and visiting vehicle operations. There are many spacewalks that are also planned. Kim had expressed his desire to participate in a spacewalk in an interview with NASA TV before launch. He described the physical and mental challenges as taxing.

Background of the crew and symbolic mission details

According to statements made to collect, Kim, aged 41, credited his diverse career path to opportunity and timing. He becomes the third U.S. Navy SEAL to enter orbit. Ryzhikov, a 50-year-old veteran cosmonaut, begins his third mission, while 32-year-old Zubritsky embarks on his first. The mission’s call sign is “Favour,” and the crew’s patch honours two key milestones in space history: the 60th anniversary of the first spacewalk and 50 years since the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


Google Pixel Watch 3 and Watch 2 Get AI-Powered Scam Detection Feature With Latest Update



Amazon Nova Reel 1.1 AI Model Released; Can Generate Up to Two-Minute-Long Videos

Continue Reading

Trending