# Researchers Achieve Fusion Energy Record  ## Metadata - Author: [[Kurzweil]] - Full Title: Researchers Achieve Fusion Energy Record - Category: #articles - URL: https://www.thekurzweillibrary.com/researchers-achieve-fusion-energy-record ## Highlights - Temperatures to produce nuclear fusion need to be extremely high — above 100 million Celsius. No materials exist that can withstand direct contact with such heat. So, to achieve fusion in a lab, scientists invented a solution — super-heated gas (called plasma) is held inside a doughnut shaped magnetic field. In geometry this doughnut shape is called a torus. And objects that have a torus shape are called toroidal. The plasma used in the JET Fusion reactor is hotter than anything in our solar system. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h5v8e5w5jffzqv9xx8bjhq9h)) - What’s really significant that we demonstrated inside JET: is that we can create a mini-sun, the right kind of mini-sun, hold it there for a sustained period — and get really good performance levels. That’s a major step forward in our quest to achieve fusion power plants. I do think we’ll see commercial fusion in our lifetime. Why is it taking so long? It’s really hard and very complex. But it’s worth it — we have to do it for the future. — *Joe Milnes PhD* ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h5v8jfmw4xz32hy7yqt0895q))