US hints at "major scientific breakthrough" in nuclear fusion; official announcement expected soon

The Financial Times reported on Sunday that researchers at the Lawrence Livermore

National Laboratory in California had produced a "net energy gain" in an experiment

using a fusion reactor. If researchers could create more energy in a fusion reaction

than was used during the reaction, it may be a significant advancement in the hunt

for carbon-free energy .The FT reported that US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm will

announce a big scientific discovery, but representatives from the Energy Department and

LLNL declined to confirm or corroborate the information.

The "research is ongoing," a representative of the government said.

According to three people with knowledge of the preliminary findings,

the fusion reaction that produced a net energy gain of 120% took place during

the preceding two weeks, as reported by the Financial Times.

want more stories like this