ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of nuclear fusion

When we use energy, we need to create it from something else, like burning coal or gas. This isn't good for our planet because it can create pollution and damage the environment. However, there is a clean and powerful way that we can produce energy, and it's called nuclear fusion.

Nuclear fusion is the process of combining two atoms to form a heavier atom, which releases a lot of energy in the process. Scientists have known about this process for over 80 years, but it wasn't until the 1950s that they began to seriously study it as a potential source of energy.

One of the biggest challenges with nuclear fusion is that it requires a lot of heat and pressure to create the necessary conditions for atoms to fuse together. To achieve this, scientists use a device called a tokamak, which is shaped like a donut and uses magnetic fields to contain and heat a plasma of hydrogen isotopes.

Over the years, scientists have made significant progress in understanding how to create and control nuclear fusion reactions. They have also discovered new ways to create energy from these reactions, including using the heat generated by the fusion process to turn water into steam, which can be used to power turbines and generate electricity.

While there are still challenges to overcome before nuclear fusion can be used on a large scale, scientists continue to make progress and are optimistic about the potential of this technology to provide a clean and sustainable source of energy for the future.