Letter to the editors: Seeking star power through hydrogen fusion – Huntington Herald Dispatch

At about 27 million degrees Fahrenheit and 340 billion atmospheres, hydrogen fusion fuels our sun. Fusion pushes two hydrogen atoms together to form helium, releasing stupendous energy. It’s the pinnacle of energy production powering stars.

In the 1950s, Russians undertake laboratory contained fusion. Under Lev Andreyevich Artsimovich’s guidance, they produce first laboratory-controlled reaction. In following years, numerous scientists work tirelessly trying to achieve a net energy gain from magnetically contained fusion process. Each decade sees incremental advancements with new approaches such as laser ignition and magnetic-mirror technology in pursuit of a self-sustaining plasma….