Fuel of the future
The week's news at a glance.
Cadarache, France
A 30-nation consortium picked France this week as the site of the world’s first nuclear fusion reactor. The E.U., U.S., China, Japan, South Korea, and Russia are chipping in the $6 billion it will take to build the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor over 10 years. Currently, nuclear reactors use fission, which splits atoms apart; the planned reactor would use fusion to meld them together. Theoretically, the process could turn seawater into fuel without harming the environment. “If we can really make this work,” said British scientist Ian Fells, “there will be enough electricity to last the world for the next 1,000 to 2,000 years.” The technological challenges are immense: The reactor will have to heat deuterium gas hotter than the sun.
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What should you be stockpiling for 'World War Three'?
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By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
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By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
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Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published