Search Results

NSF Funds $30 Million Turbulence Research Center Focused on Predictive Modeling for Fusion Energy

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has established a new Science and Technology Center with a total funding of $30 million, focusing on the understanding and prediction of turbulence. The project targets application scenarios such as fusion energy, astrophysics, and hypersonic flight, aiming to tackle the challenges of cross-scale turbulence modeling and prediction in complex physical systems. Researchers and students from San José State University (SJSU) will participate in the related research. This is a three-dimensional simulated turbulent velocity field at the core collapse point of a massive star before a supernova explosion. Image credit: S. Couch, based on research by Fields and Couch published in The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 921, Page 28.

2026-08-27

MIIT: Promote Future Industries Including Nuclear Fusion Energy as New Growth Drivers

The State Council Information Office held a press conference on August 26, where the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) briefed on efforts to fully implement the 15th Five-Year Plan and accelerate new industrialization. The MIIT stated that over the next five years, it will focus on optimizing the industrial structure, coordinating the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, nurturing and strengthening emerging industries, and making forward-looking arrangements for future industries, while maintaining and developing a complete industrial system. In terms of future industry layout, the MIIT proposed promoting quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen energy and nuclear fusion energy, brain-computer interfaces, embodied intelligence, and sixth-generation mobile communications as new economic growth drivers. The inclusion of nuclear fusion energy in future industry directions reflects its important position in new industrialization and the cultivation of strategic emerging industries.

2026-08-27

Japan Completes Cryogenic Test of World's Largest Superconducting Toroidal Field Coil for ITER

Japan's National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) and Toshiba Corporation announced on August 25 that they had successfully completed the first cryogenic current test of the world's largest superconducting toroidal field coil at the construction site of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). The test was conducted at an operating temperature of approximately minus 269 degrees Celsius, marking a critical technical milestone before ITER's commissioning. The superconducting toroidal field coil, also known as the TF coil, installed in the test facility is a key component of ITER's superconducting magnet system, used to generate the strong magnetic field required to confine plasma. During the test, the team cooled the coil from room temperature to cryogenic conditions, confirmed its transition to the superconducting state, and for the first time achieved stable conduction of 10,000 amperes of current while the coil was in the superconducting state.

2026-08-25

US Study Shows Inertial Fusion Implosions Can Tolerate Certain Asymmetries

Researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in the US have recently found that implosion designs for inertial fusion energy (IFE) can withstand considerable imperfections before performance degrades sharply. This result aids in the design of fuel targets for future fusion power plants, particularly in assessing the tolerance of target capsules to errors under high-frequency injection and laser-driven conditions. The study's simulation results show the density (top) and temperature (bottom) at the instant just before fusion reactions peak in an asymmetric implosion. The hottest spot coincides with the point of highest fuel density, indicating direct ignition of high-density fuel jets driven by asymmetry. The image was recently selected for the cover of Physics of Plasmas...

2026-08-25

U.S. Department of Energy Extends Princeton University Contract to Operate PPPL

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Princeton University have extended the contract under which Princeton University manages and operates the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). The laboratory is located on Princeton University's Forrestal Campus in Plainsboro, New Jersey. Under the new extension, the contract will be renewed for five years starting April 1, 2027. Princeton University expects to strengthen collaboration with faculty and research teams on campus during the contract period, explore next-generation fusion energy research facilities, and enhance laboratory infrastructure and safety to support ongoing operational needs. Princeton University's office for research affairs...

2026-08-25

American Fusion's Fusion Platform Patent Applications Reach 100

American Fusion announced on August 24 that the total number of patent applications it has filed around its Texatron Fusion Engine platform has reached 100, including 17 newly filed U.S. patent applications. The company stated that these applications primarily cover the structural design, fuel injection, electromagnetic configuration, and system architecture of the Texatron platform. According to the company's disclosure, the 17 newly filed applications were submitted between August 16 and 22, 2026, covering aluminum fusion confinement structures, clamshell and monobloc housings, hollow annular inner cavities, rifled inner wall geometries, electromagnetic field structures, helium-3 and deuterium...

2026-08-25

Beijing's First Second-Generation High-Temperature Superconducting Tape Mass Production Line Project Approved

Recently, the second-generation high-temperature superconducting tape R&D and production project invested in by Energy Singularity Superconducting Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Singularity, was officially approved for project initiation in the Daxing section of the Airport Economic Zone. Once completed and put into operation, the project will establish Beijing's first mass production line for second-generation high-temperature superconducting tape. According to reports, the project plans to build three production lines for rare-earth barium copper oxide (ReBCO) high-temperature superconducting tape based on the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) process route, achieving an annual output of 1,200 kilometers of high-temperature superconducting tape in the 12 mm width specification. High-temperature superconducting tape is a key raw material for manufacturing high-temperature superconducting magnets. In tokamak devices, high-temperature superconducting tape accounts for approximately...

2026-08-24

Naju City, Korea Proposes Construction of National Fusion Energy Center

Naju City, Korea recently proposed the concept of building a national-level fusion energy center, planning to use the locally planned artificial sun research facility as a foundation to connect the entire process of fusion energy from basic research, demonstration and validation, to power generation and industrialization. On August 21, Naju City Mayor Yoon Byung-tae visited the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy (KFE) and met with its President Oh Young-kuk. Yoon proposed that Naju City would strive to host the fusion demonstration reactor (DEMO) linked to the artificial sun research facility, while promoting the construction of a government-led comprehensive fusion energy research base and industrial cluster, and applying for the designation of a specialized fusion energy...

2026-08-22

ITER vacuum vessel assembly in France progresses steadily, with five European sectors at different critical stages

The vacuum vessel assembly work for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project in southern France is progressing steadily. As the core component of the ITER tokamak device, the vacuum vessel will contain the plasma confined by superconducting magnets, serving as the critical space where fusion reactions occur. This stainless steel ring-shaped structure weighs approximately 5,200 tonnes in total, measures 19.4 meters in diameter, and consists of nine sectors, five of which are manufactured by Europe. The European Fusion for Energy organization (F4E), together with the AMW consortium comprising Ansaldo Nucleare, Westinghouse Electric Italy, and Walter Tosto Company, is responsible for the related manufacturing work.

2026-08-21

US Inertia Fusion Fuel Preparation Time Significantly Reduced

US fusion startup Inertia Enterprises said it has made progress in inertial fusion energy fuel preparation in collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), reducing the time required for the critical step of forming a cryogenic deuterium-tritium fuel layer from potentially several days in the past to tens of minutes. The company said this achievement completes a key task in the first phase of its commercial fusion power plant development goals. The fundamental approach of inertial fusion energy involves using high-energy lasers to compress and heat small targets containing deuterium-tritium fuel, bringing the fuel to ignition conditions and releasing energy. The National Ignition Facility (NIF) has already...

2026-08-21

Mellifluous Fusion and Advaiya Solutions Partner to Deliver AI and Business Technology Solutions for the Fusion Energy Industry

On August 19, Mellifluous Fusion, a fusion energy marketing company, signed a cooperation agreement with Advaiya Solutions, a business technology company, to provide solutions related to business applications, artificial intelligence development, and deployment for the rapidly growing fusion energy industry. Under the agreement, the collaboration will focus on enhancing operational efficiency, organizational coordination, and responsiveness in the fusion energy supply chain through integrated systems and AI tools. As fusion energy companies, suppliers, and supporting service systems expand rapidly, digital business systems and AI applications are seen as key to supporting the industry's large-scale development...

2026-08-20

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory to Validate Spherical Tokamak Fusion Path with NSTX-U

The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) is advancing research on the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U), planning to use this largest spherical tokamak in the United States to assess the potential of compact tokamak configurations for future fusion power plants. The device is designed to become one of the most powerful spherical tokamaks in the world and will be used to study key issues such as high-temperature plasma confinement, heat transport, material performance, and real-time control. The image above shows the vacuum vessel and center column of the NSTX-U at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). This device will help scientists determine the optimal shape for future fusion power plants...

2026-08-20

General Fusion Announces Business Update: LM26 Plasma Heated to Approximately 0.72 keV

General Fusion released a business update on August 18, disclosing its latest progress in fusion energy technology validation, commercial partnerships, and financing arrangements. The company went public on Nasdaq in July 2026 under the ticker symbol GFUZ. General Fusion stated that it entered the public market with approximately $150 million in cash following the completion of its business combination with Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. III. The funds include net transaction proceeds from private placement and trust capital, and are planned to support the Lawson Machine 26 (LM26) project and drive the completion of multiple...

2026-08-19

Thea Energy Completes Series B Extension to Advance Stellarator Fusion Plant Deployment

Thea Energy, Inc. announced on August 18 that it has completed an extension of its Series B financing round, with new investors including Brevan Howard Macro Venture, Aloniq, ALJ Investments, Beyond Earth Ventures, and other global strategic investors. The company stated that the new funds will be used to advance the engineering and commercial deployment of its stellarator fusion technology. Thea Energy had previously announced the completion of a $100 million Series B round, led by the U.S. Innovative Technology Fund (USIT) under Thomas Tull. The funds are primarily intended to expand magnet manufacturing capacity and build a second facility in northern New Jersey.

2026-08-19

UK Atomic Energy Authority spins out Singular Machines

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has recently spun out Singular Machines, a UK engineering automation company. The company is commercializing artificial intelligence technologies originating from fusion engineering R&D scenarios and has secured strategic investment and new industry contracts. According to information released by UKAEA on August 17, Singular Machines has completed a round of strategic investment. The round was led by the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund and Oxford Science Enterprises, with participation from global engineering firm Arup and Japan's Miraiso...

2026-08-18