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00:04 Over the last couple of years, there have been some major breakthroughs with regards
00:07 to fusion energy, which is essentially harnessing the same power that energizes the sun.
00:12 Now researchers have achieved quite possibly the biggest breakthrough yet, as they have
00:16 now confirmed that their laser-driven reaction created more energy than it took to initiate.
00:21 The experiment involved firing 2.05 megajoules of lasers at a fuel source, fusing them into
00:26 helium and producing 3.15 megajoules of energy as a result.
00:31 This was proof that we could potentially create basically unlimited clean energy, passing
00:35 the scientific break-even point.
00:37 With the researchers writing, "This achievement is the culmination of more than five decades
00:41 of research and gives proof that laboratory fusion, based on fundamental physics principles,
00:47 is possible."
00:48 However, that was only their first ignition test.
00:50 Subsequent tests with better dialed equipment have resulted in more energy output.
00:54 In fact, one of their more recent tests, conducted in 2023, resulted in 3.88 megajoules of energy
00:59 being created from the same 2.5 megajoule fuel.
01:03 That's nearly twice the energy created as was needed to start the fusion reaction.
01:07 Still experts say commercial fusion energy is still decades away, meaning our need for
01:11 other green energy sources remains.
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