Nuclear Fusion
The nuclear fusion of light elements powers the sun and other stars. The fusion process in stars and supernovas creates from primordial hydrogen heavier elements, including those needed for chemistry and life. Nuclear fusion is analogous to the chemical reaction of burning, such as the joining (fusing) of hydrogen and oxygen to produce water vapor and release energy. Both processes produce something new while releasing energy.
Our planet contains large quantities of light elements that are theoretically suitable for providing energy from fusion reactions in central power plants. The potential energy resource from fusion is vast—so vast that the world's energy needs could be met for billions of years at current rates of consumption. Laboratory experiments, as well as nuclear explosions, have released fusion energy on the Earth, and it may be feasible to provide useful energy from fusion in the future in a controlled and safe manner. While the fusion process is a nuclear reaction, the results of the reaction do not include many of the problems with fission: First, there are no products like long-lived fission products that cause many of the problems associated with nuclear waste from fission. Second safeguarding uranium and plutonium is not an issue with fusion because those materials are not used.
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