Nuclear Fusion: Inside the Lab that Made History

In December 2022, scientists at the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory ignited the first human-caused fusion reaction that generated more energy than it took to create the reaction.
0:00 Intro
0:42 Breakthrough in Nuclear Fusion
1:35 The Promise of Nuclear Fusion
2:17 The Ignition Facility
3:28 Target Chamber
4:26 The Target
4:53 The Event
5:32 Future of Fusion
Read the CNET Article for more info:
What the Fusion Ignition Breakthrough Really Means for Energy cnet.co/45F5Tsk
National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: lasers.llnl.gov/
Andy on Twitter: @theandyaltman
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#fusion #nuclear #science

[@DrSnackCake5]

The thing is - all the experts say we are still a decade out from this actually being viable. However, technology trends tend to snowball and come faster than expected. Just think about how long it took for a plane when it was first developed till now. Now think about how quickly phones modernized. This technology will come quicker that we think and I am all for it!

[@Quacking-duck]

We’ve been a decade away for 20 years

[@maximusasauluk7359]

That's cute except that has been the argument for the last 50 years and yet here we are

[@hoonan1874]

i think he mentioned when technology gets made and not a breakthrough , for last 50 year we had constant breakthroughs but not the technology itself and a technology like nuclear fusion will easily be widespead@@maximusasauluk7359

[@_Chad_ThunderCock]

I definitely think this decade iis a possibility. Mainly because of breakthroughs. Record high temperatures being achieved by institutions globally, new 20 Tesla magnets, Tungsten/W alloy diverters, Artificial intelligence to inhance plasma stability. Technologies are lining up very nicely for making this a real possibility.

[@TechGamesAU]

1:25. CORRECTION: it did not generate more energy than it took to trigger the reaction. It simply generated more energy than was directly input into the cylinder. The energy output was not greater than the total combined energy to trigger the reaction.

[@lumpyjuicee]

you work there?

[@TechGamesAU]

@@lumpyjuicee why would I need to work there? 😂

[@kurtpena5462]

@@lumpyjuicee Seriously, study physics and read better articles on the subject. You don't know the first thing.

[@TechGamesAU]

@@lumpyjuicee ???

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

They already stated this though, so it’s not a correction.

[@joseantoniocanorosas]

For Fusion Energy, the sooner the better 👍

[@fALSE.fLAGGOT]

For who? For big energy? How do we not know by now that money is the root of all evils and Fusion Energy will just be gapped by Vangraud. Good the them and nothing will be good for the people as long as they exist.

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

Imagine what this means for politico-economics: No more excuse for punitive-states to violently subject others for resources. World peace will be tons more probable.

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

Though it’s also important that all types of intellectual property laws be fully abolished immediately, in any and all jurisdictions worldwide:

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

I have a playlist (not _my_ videos) of *the* best videos on (IP) intellectual property on my channel for all interested.

[@jdeyre]

5:24 killed my vibe

[@harmonyvibe369]

🔌💡🔫🗝💸

[@88Cardey]

And highlighted why this whole video is clickbait, as pretty much every fusion video is...

[@LaplacianFourier]

Love What the Future segments! Keep them coming.

[@philly-nv.]

I'm glad I am alive during a historical moment in mankind's history and future. Thank you for your persistence.

[@suuuuuuupreme]

if you think about it, after billions of years of the earth, billions of years of evolution, we're a part of the time that re-created a micro-Sun of power. What a time to be alive.

[@jesusofbullets]

@@suuuuuuupreme If you think about it even harder, all the elements we're made out of come from dead stars, so we're effectively the remnants of stars CREATING stars.

[@JigilJigil]

It is admirable that you take the time to go to these facilities and places for these videos, if possible, please do similar videos on some of the startups that are working on fusion as well.

[@dbsirius]

Fusion is only a decade away, it's always been a decade away.

[@Just_Rick_137]

I think it'll happen sooner than expected because we need it to.

[@dreadowen616]

It'll happen much sooner for sure because of AI technology.

[@jevonmcpherson8054]

@@dreadowen616 I don't know what AI has to do with this loool.

[@dreadowen616]

@@jevonmcpherson8054 Can't post the link. Try googling it. Nuclear fusion is managed more efficiently by AI. As AI advances, considering the current pace, it won't take a decade to have a commercially working one.

[@zoetele123]

That's awesome great job

[@reddragon9918]

This video overlooks many of the issues facing fusion re:scalability, energy storage and safety and makes it sound like a magic trick

[@kurtpena5462]

Cost, material science, complexity...

[@saulteanuts-vg8iu]

You're right, we should ban all religions and sterilize their minions.

[@evosk8life]

Electricty and a combustible engine would be considered magic in the middle ages 😏

[@hunterxcraft8328]

Fusion has literally zero safety risk that’s the whole point 🤷🏽

[@kurtpena5462]

@@hunterxcraft8328 Please watch less science fiction movies and learn more about physics and engineering. There are plenty of risks associated with operating a model star.

[@waynegosson1793]

We already have. And this was a great video thank you.

[@marcoromero2446]

In 200 years it’ll be perfected for all aircraft…and we were here for the start of it all ❤️‍🔥

[@lambbosbread123]

u didnt start anything

[@Unkn0.n]

I say less by the way tech will advance even more rapidly after fusion is up in running

[@kempegowdam1039]

Quite fascinating applications are ther

[@zubin2562]

This is a really cool explanation of a beautiful, beneficial yet complicated thing. Thanks for making this. This will be my references for when someone asks "what happens at Lawrence Livermore", or "how DO they make fusion happen" - Well this is what happens there, and how they do it. Thanks again CNET team 👍. And I can't be more pumped for what more is to come in WTF!

[@kurtpena5462]

It's completely dis-indigenous. It is weapons research, not power research. It misrepresents the significance of the outcome.

[@zubin2562]

@@kurtpena5462 Lawrence Livermore has been name dropped enough in science communication channels that I was aware of their name and the gist of what they do, but I wasn't aware that they were doing it for weapons research. That I got to know from this video, because CNET told it. The moment that they did, my appreciation for Tokamak skyrocketed and I wished for it to get ahead. But I don't hold this against CNET, they were upfront about this. The beautiful, beneficial yet complicated thing in my eyes is fusion. I do agree with the core of what you said. Still people who are curious about Lawrence Livermore, even fusion, can come to this video and just like I did, alongside all the fun things, learn that it is for weapons research, who don't know about Lawrence Livermore and came to know just about fusion can also learn about Lawrence Livermore and why not to support it, alongside fusion, and then take their support to other places, like I did.

[@cskueny]

It explained the significance exactly. @@kurtpena5462

[@deletdis6173]

Liberals will say it's scary and prevent it from advancing like they do with fission energy

[@antonod424]

This is truly a monumental achievement in the field of science and energy! The potential of nuclear fusion is astounding - a clean, safe, and virtually limitless source of energy that could revolutionize our world. The dedication and ingenuity of the scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are inspiring. Their work brings us one step closer to a sustainable future. Can't wait to see what the next experiment brings! Keep up the fantastic work!

[@88Cardey]

Keep sober about it... Firstly, this experiment is for nuclear weapons research, it will never be used for energy production. Secondly, far more energy was put into this system than was taken out, this story just lies and skirts around this fact... The energy they took from it was greater than the laser energy used, but hundreds of times more energy went into that system to make the laser... So they lost a lot of energy in reality.

[@kurtpena5462]

NIF did what? Blew up a pellet with unparalleled efficiency? It's "fantastic" alright.

[@robertconcepcion2644]

I like that the boss is sleeping and still have the credit 😂

[@friedpork_owl]

This makes me want to watch the movie The Saint. Truly epic

[@adtwinonline]

Wow ! "Truly a "Wright Brothers Moment" after 30 years --for Making Earth Great Again ! Go Livermore Lab !

[@sibtain2827]

so cool!!

[@ichigoshippudenjesusisking1783]

Oh yes! Very much achievable soon actually!

[@AAli560045]

if we could only control the HEAT then FUSION is the cleanest and unlimited energy

[@user-jb5ew6dc8e]

تكنولوجيا حديثة جدا جدا جدا 👍💕💕💕💕💕

[@Allaces305]

So let me get this right.... it takes 400mj to send a laser of 2mj to create a reaction of 3mj and this machine is not intended for the future of energy production??

[@sivtech]

It's a lab model

[@ggyggg2272]

Wow this video is 12 days ago this is such a technological advancement.

[@markhuebner7580]

Whoohoo! Go team!

[@seekvapes9641]

how do you deal with a piece of you machne getting fusion nuked every time you run it? Are those exploder pieces expendable?

[@thegloriousquran1208]

It seems this will require extreme manufacturing and alignment precision down to a nanometer range, it is very impressive

[@Eye_See_U]

Finally 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@ootastelessoo7667]

Can’t wait to see this bad boy as pocket size. Hopefully it will be as good as computers :D they to were a lot bigger

[@imiguifurr]

We seriously need an alternative for lithium batteries

[@_Chad_ThunderCock]

Not possible

[@johnh6245]

As soon as any neutrons are produced, the laser lenses will go black. And in any case, where would they put the neutron multipliers, the tritium breeding lithium-6 and the cooling channels?

[@WarlordMoA]

Stable fusion reactor would need synchronous energy from another stable reactor laboratory, to give us limitless energy.

[@Shinzon23]

It would only need it for the startup sequence once the reactor is lit,and it's stable, It's producing more energy than it needs to sustain itself

[@Socman86]

Can we see video of the fusion reaction? You would think that they would share it already.

[@King_9893]

🔥🔥🔥

[@Twiggy163]

No, the reaction did not generate more power than it took in because you're comparing laser output to fusion output. Compare power laser intake to fusion output and it shows the reaction consuming far more power than it generates.

[@imiguifurr]

It still means fusion is viable... Just not yet

[@emmanuelcae]

Incredible science and physics

[@MilanMohapatra13]

How power can it give😮

[@_Chad_ThunderCock]

Roughly 4 times as much energy as current fission nuclear produce, if the technology is perfected

[@MilanMohapatra13]

@@_Chad_ThunderCock wow...revolutionary invention

[@tpop3723]

Could you imagine if they had 193 lasers?

[@j3dwin]

They did but one was in the shop.

[@michaelcorlet2998]

The dream has got ahead of reality. Tell us the facts, weve heard all this many times before. Ill wait for your next clip in 30years.

[@vanrozay8871]

With the lowering cost and increasing deployment of solar and wind, may fusion power be the tech that finally became practical when no longer needed?

[@charliebosson9468]

Why would you not want fusion power

[@nilsfrederking62]

I would prefer fusion much over windmills, a friend of mine has a house on the countryside and sometimes you feel a humming vibrating from the windmills a few kilometers away.

[@vanrozay8871]

@@nilsfrederking62 a problem, but easily solved. many are now set in shallow, offshore waters, far enough away not to be an issue, and close enough to charge batteries. fusion would be very expensive for a while. before it became practical. meanwhile, these less problematic, and well-proven energy sources can be built out until they supply the world.

[@00Tatum]

“Great Stuff”

[@thiccboof]

This looks great on paper, but if we actually created a continuous fusion reaction to the predicted temperature of a yellow dwarf star (the sun), how would we contain that? Wouldn’t the generated heat basically destroy any material?

[@youraveragedoctor2061]

They suspend the reaction with magnets

[@thiccboof]

That’s awesome; I had no idea. Thanks

[@deejayguppy6087]

"The power of the Sun... in the palm of my hand."

[@IllusiveDude]

This guys sounds like a younger steve Buscemi haha

[@ian2372]

Move the lab to Texas or Florida and we will have Fusion energy on a commercial scale in 5 years.

[@richv1893]

Cool achievement but it took 70 years to do it once as an experiment. It's a long way from being the energy solution that is commercially viable.

[@Rampage1Rules]

It's the psychological barrier that it's actually possible, which is more important. Like the 4 minute mile

[@imthesquareroot6125]

Well if Lockheed Martin Skunk Works is to be believed. They achieved fully working fusion several years ago.

[@rickintexas1584]

The headline of this video is wildly misleading. We are now, and will remain for a long time, unable to provide usable nuclear fusion for electricity generation. The physics and engineering required are just too complex. Creating a fusion reaction is hard, but possible. Containing it and converting it into electricity is a totally different problem.

[@phreewill]

Most not given this the credit that it deserve. Sure the lasers consume 400 mega Jules. It also takes outside power to start a gas power plant turbine. Now engineering is the next roadblock. magnetic confinement and NIC laser setup should be put together. I am not a professional in any of these field.

[@kurtpena5462]

I am an expert. It's getting way too much credit.

[@88Cardey]

It shows... This experiment is for nuclear weapons research, it has nothing to do with energy production and will never produce more energy than put it. Magnetic confinement with a tokamak is something else entirely and comes with it's own set of challenges that we aren't close to overcoming... You can't just combine two technologies that have entirely separate goals... It makes no sense.

[@comediante4618]

❤❤❤

[@anandparan3011]

So, you guys are takeover Doctor octopus project.

[@subhajit1128]

If this goes out of control will the earth itself turn into a star?

[@hampopper3150]

I don't see it becoming a viable power source and we will likely discover a different reaction that will work.

[@AnilKumar-xl2te]

You have to literally create mini-sun inside a lab and extract energy generated. I still feel impossible and more expensive

[@santamariamarvy]

The team working on this including all documents should be nationalized. This is a game changing tech that could easily be yoinked by bad actors

[@TronSAHeroXYZ]

It is? You sure? Seems like a huge waste of effort, time, money, energy.

[@vizmohanan]

Wait a min.. Linus changed his voice?

[@jhonPriego-dp5fd]

so let me guess its like a piston for a reactor small and then u got chips modems for tvs micros fridge energy efficience

[@TheNaiv69]

aliens crusiing just chillin, sensors pick up a quick ping of the machine as they said being the hottest thing in the solar system...aleins face 🧐

[@Cipotalp]

Maybe in 2080-2100 they will build one fully functional reactor.

[@_Chad_ThunderCock]

Much sooner than that

[@praveenmunda1323]

Dr. Octo octavios

[@michaelcorlet2998]

Lotts of glossing over the reality of climbing the mountain of limitless energ

[@merouchecharaf7177]

sa resemble au projets manathan 1945 la première bombe atomique au usa

[@dchavez854]

Reality is often stranger than fiction

[@__Tazzzo]

We have no clue just how strange yet. No limit.

[@ChrisWashburn]

He looks like LinusTechTips in 10 years lol.

[@ChristopherFalletta-rh9jf]

The way that they Replicated fusion is not a way forward but they did prove fusion is possible kind of because we know that the sun does it so it is possible

[@dummyali2016]

Double tap triple tap / tap and hold …. 😊

[@etutorshop]

Is this peer reviewed?

[@etutorshop]

Looking at the size I don't know if it can even be peer reviewed, when the peer may not even have something similar to test the results.

[@kurtpena5462]

@@etutorshop Do you understand what is meant by Q and why this interpretation of it is nothing short of fraud?

[@trungminh4997]

Thanks god for unlimited energy

[@Kiss__Kiss]

A little misleading. "The lab that made history?" We all know which one that was, in 2019.

[@sailingsurvival]

This needs to be fast tracked and made free and open source for the good of the planet.

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

That’s not possible until intellectual property laws are fully abolished. I have a playlist (not _my_ videos) of *the* best videos on (IP) intellectual property abolition on my channel for all interested.

[@EndoftheBlock7224]

@@user-wl2xl5hm7k That's a terrible idea my friend as IP is what created all the wonders you use everyday. To blanketly abolish IP would be counter-intuitive. Not sure how you don't understand that

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

@@EndoftheBlock7224 False. Please do your research, don’t fail humanity with absence of rationality and ethics. You have a long ways to go. But I _already_ gave you some of the best resources to get started 👆

[@ericlotze7724]

On one hand i am an Open Source Advocate as well, but this fits in the “Dual Use” category in my opinion, far more than a Tokamak etc (which would be a better candidate anyways). These facilities were made moreso for Non-Nuclear Testing of Implosion Type Nuclear Explosives. The program is called the “Stockpile Stewardship and Management Program”. The TLDR is the world has agreed nuclear testing (as in Blowing Up nuclear explosives, be it on the surface, below the ground or oceans, or in air/spqce) is bad, HOWEVER Nuclear Weapon Holding States such as the USA want to maintain their existing stockpiles, and potentially design new warheads. This requires computer models and/or testing. Because the field dealing with this (“High Energy Density Physics” if I understand correctly, check me on this) is somewhat new, the computer models need to have data from somewhere. In the past they would just take a Nuke out to a desert, island, or underground tunnel, but nowadays they do stuff like this. I’m rambling, but: 1.) It’s to expensive and impractical to be of use to nearly anyone except Existing Nuclear State (or ones seeking nuclear weapons, hence it’s a proliferation risk) 2.) The information can be used to build/improve nuclear weapons. So considering those two points, despite being an Open Source advocate, I think neither the facility’s design, or it’s data should be used. The only exception i could think of would be granting trusted researchers etc access for developing Pulsed ICF Drives for Civilian (ie-non military research) Space Use.

[@88Cardey]

This experiment has nothing to do with energy production, it's for nuclear weapons research. And far more energy went in than came out, they produced more energy than the laser itself... Far more energy went into the system to make that laser though, hundreds of times more than they got out... This story is for the most part, BS.

[@sergiopabon1387]

A true representation of creation being more powerful than destruction.

[@katherandefy]

It was a first. We are a long way from the goal. It is crazy expensive. Sustainability is imo not the goal. Monopoly or at least cordoning of energy profit for political reasons is the primary goal. Maybe that is the best future for our world.

[@LagawWayPlano]

in about 50 to 70 years its possible that it wiil powered our space ships

[@jamesdelatorre8565]

Sometimes I think to myself maybe some things just shouldnt be invented

[@sammydane5988]

1:25

[@reddragon9918]

This is such old news

[@Randelo2013]

Sounds like we’re destined to create a black hole

[@tyvernoverlord5363]

I think we'll be able to eventually utilize zero-point vaccum energy

[@lil----lil]

What if .....we created a tiny black hole instead?

[@nattobaby]

we saw what happened in spiderman 2

[@wyattpruitt6965]

Captain Kirk died in there😂

[@hoot1141]

They actually didn’t get more than they put in. Fusion energy isn’t even close to viable and even if it was its cost prohibitive. Fusion is decades from being viable. This facility has a crafty way to explain their results to continue to get funding.

[@ncopp4358]

Well yeah obviously Lol. They just started maintaining a fusion reaction for longer than a fraction of a second. All of this is just proof of concept.

[@redfoot69]

It still doesn't last long enough to make it practical put on the electric grid

[@budmoore7971]

The problem I see is large entrenched fossil fuel energy companies lobbying against fusion energy until they or some other group of wealthy powerful individuals can monopolize, control and reap the profits from it.

[@MrStringybark]

Do you really care which monopoly controls your energy sources?

[@rotten6253]

Not a big deal where just creating a miniature sun

[@djjjjj]

Zordon

[@wensleyjames9761]

I heard today in the news they had 3 successful attempts.

[@twitte0king]

misleading af, the input is 400MJ is the true input, 3MJ is the output.

[@almor2445]

Also they refer to hydrogen as abundant. Sure but how common is tritium?!

[@marcoflumino]

See my answer above

[@marcoflumino]

@@almor2445 Tritium is rare and on earth is actually very rare. The good thing is we can make tritium in somehow good quantities, just it take a long time and a lot of energy.

[@88Cardey]

@@marcoflumino One of the biggest downsides to deuterium tritium reaction, aside from it being rare and costly to make, is the larger number high energy neutrons compared with other reactions, but other reactions typically require much higher initial temps for fusion and much less energy is given off, several orders of magnitude less... High energy neutrons are a real pain to deal with though, they make most elements radioactive when they interact and they're difficult to stop...

[@kurtpena5462]

@@marcoflumino Really? By that logic, fission power should be ubiquitous.

[@blackandbluecamaro2877]

Energy gain has been accomplished many, many years ago, and all they did is make it a damn toy! Actual perpetual motion! The drinking bird toy.. 🤷‍♂️

[@MattNolanCustom]

@37s, @5m55s, why is there some computer game / cgi nonsense in this otherwise serious tech news report?

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

Imagine what this means for politico-economics: No more excuses for punitive-states to violently subject others for resources. World peace will be tons more probable.

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

Though it’s also important that all types of intellectual property laws be fully abolished immediately, in any and all jurisdictions worldwide:

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

I have a playlist (not _my_ videos) of *the* best videos on (IP) intellectual property on my channel for all interested.

[@shinkurt]

Fusion researchers are paid so low

[@xddelectronics]

I don't think it was made just for fusion reactions. This device has an amazing capacity 🧐

[@PunkN_JTM]

Fire crackers put off more energy than required to set them off also.... So they made a spark... Whooptie dooo.. another failed waste of taxes

[@chem7553]

Never gonna happen. Fission has already left fusion in the dust. Fusion's numbers remain untenable. We may one day find a way to directly extract the energy from matter. I hope this happens sooner than later. But, it is clear that fusion is not the methodology to do this.

[@BlakeTedKord]

So do we call the extracting process nuke extraction? And how do we extract MORE energy than we put in from a single atom?

[@abdullahozdemir6389]

its idiotic and impossible to make real energy output from that.

[@imiguifurr]

How so?

[@bryanb7838]

1st😂

[@arkatub]

Waste of time/money, it is like trying to do powered flight with a steel engine (or worse), wait 50 years till we have better tech, fund the science that will deliver that tech.

[@JasonB808]

They made a fusion reaction in a lab that lasted only a small fraction of a second. All they did was use lasers instead of bomb to make the reaction. We already have done fusion in bombs with Hydrogen Bombs. Hydrogen bombs release many times more energy than ignition explosion. So in a sense we already have achieved this milestone with weapons decades ago. This is just the first time not having to blow a big hole in the world to do so. Nuclear fusion as an energy source may not be possible. The heat and pressure needed to produce something capable of producing constant energy for many years is not limited to technology or intelligence, but the very physics that govern the universe.

[@ericlotze7724]

Because of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty…

[@donbritain6476]

You need to learn the difference between fission and fusion.

[@kurtpena5462]

NIF is a weapons research facility.

[@donbritain6476]

@@kurtpena5462 Because it is a secure research facility.

[@kurtpena5462]

@@donbritain6476 NIF was created to develop weapons following the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Don't make this a "chicken and egg" problem. There's no need to reinvent the past. Blasting pellets with lasers so they ignite isn't really fusion energy research.

[@marcoflumino]

Ehm, actually that is not correct to say that the achieve more power than they put in... Let me explain, yes the achieve a more powerful power generation, that exceeded the input, but they did not put into calculation the entire system input of energy, that is why technically the did and technically they did not. Most scientist just consider the initial system, not all the other systems that you need to make the reactor work.... I am afraid that we are a long way before we can do that!

[@EndoftheBlock7224]

Hate to tell you all but for almost the entirety of human existence we have lived sustainably. Nothing on this planet has ever stayed the same, the atmosphere on earth used to by basically hydrochloric acid. Everyday this planet is closer to it's ultimate demise and we can not stop that.

[@wilson..olivia194]

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[@wilson..olivia194]

​@God's Power "I've earned over $300,000 investing in the stock market and cryptocurrency trading with the guidance of Mrs. Angelia Marie Brown's services."

[@lewismavins1469]

I'm still reading through the comments, but I'm wondering, who's Angelia Marie?

[@gemmakaila541]

Same here, I am earning $30,000 a week. May God bless Angelia Marie, as she has been a blessing to my family.

[@palgun.]

Wow which bot you are using?

[@jackielpowell]

Isn't this where someone drops her contact information, or are we not there yet? Please excuse my sarcasm, but I am genuinely interested in obtaining her contact details.