Nuclear fusion record, closer to unlimited clean energy

Scientists near Oxford, England, have set a new record in nuclear fusion energy. This brings us one step closer to clean energy for the future.

The experiment, called Joint European Torus (JET), used a big, donut-shaped machine called a tokamak. The scientists kept a record 69 megajoules of fusion energy going for five seconds and used only a tiny bit of fuel. This is enough to power about 12,000 homes for the same amount of time.

Nuclear fusion is the same process that powers the sun and stars. Many people believe it’s the ultimate clean energy. Fusion could create lots of energy with little fuel and no harmful carbon emissions.

The scientists used deuterium and tritium, types of hydrogen, in the machine.

To create fusion energy, the team heated the machine to 150 million degrees Celsius. That’s about 10 times hotter than the sun. This extreme heat makes the deuterium and tritium fuse together into helium. This process creates even more heat.

The machine has strong magnets that keep the heat in place. The heat is then used to make electricity.

This experiment is the last one for JET, which has been operating for over 40 years. This last experiment and its new record are good news for future fusion projects. 

Fusion energy could help stop climate change, but the technology won’t be ready for many more years. There are still many challenges. For example, running the experiment used more energy than it created.

Vocabulary

• Scientist – a person who studies science or the natural world; researcher; 👨‍🔬🥼🧪🔬
• Set a record – to achieve/do something better or more significant than anyone has done before; the most or least ever measured
• Record – the most or least ever; the highest level ever; achieved for the first time.
• Nuclear fusion – A process where small atoms (particles) join together to make a bigger one, and it makes a lot of energy
• Energy – fuel; electricity; power; oil
• Clean energy – energy generated from renewable sources (wind, solar, water, etc.) without creating greenhouse gasses (CO2)
• Experiment – A test, project or activity we do to learn something new; Trying something new to see what happens
• Donut – A sweet food that is round and has a hole in the middle; 🍩
• Megajoule – A big unit we use to measure energy; one million joules
• Fuel – a source of energy; something that is used to provide heat or power, usually by being burned, for example coal, wood, oil, etc.
• Power – energy; electricity ⚡
• Ultimate – The best or most extreme example of something
• Carbon – a chemical element found in all living things; the ‘C’ in CO2; 
• Emissions – gas, heat, or light that is released or sent out; often refers to pollution from burning fuel
• Hydrogen – a colorless, odorless, flammable gas; chemical element ‘H’
• Million – 1,000,000 = one-million
• Degree – A unit we use to measure temperature
• Times – A way of saying how many times one number is multiplied by another; ‘X’; How many of something there are
• Extreme – serious or dangerous; “high”; most; greatest
• Fuse – To join or blend to form a single entity
• Magnet – 🧲; Something that can pull certain types of metal towards it; Something that attracts metal
• Electricity – power; current; energy used to operate lights, TVs, etc.; ⚡🔌
• Operate – to manage; run; use; to control or use a machine; conduct 
• Climate change – the fast and dangerous change in weather happening around the world
• Run – when talking about TV series, “run” refers to the number of episodes or seasons a show has aired or will air

Quiz

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Discussion Questions

• How do you think the success of the JET experiment might impact future fusion projects?
• Why is it important to find clean energy sources like fusion energy?
• What are your thoughts on the fact that running the experiment used more energy than it created?
• Do you think fusion energy could be dangerous? Why or why not?

• English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
• English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.

Original Story

edition.cnn.com

Scientists just set a nuclear fusion record in a step toward unleashing the limitless, clean energy source | CNN

Scientists in the UK announce a new nuclear fusion energy record, bringing the futuristic energy source a step closer to reality

Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice

Scientists near _____, England, have set a new record in nuclear fusion _____. This brings us one step closer to clean energy for the _____.

The experiment, _____ Joint European Torus (JET), used a big, donut-shaped _____ called a tokamak. The scientists kept a record _____ megajoules of fusion energy going for five seconds and used only a _____ bit of fuel. This is enough to power about _____ homes for the same amount of time.

_____ fusion is the same process that powers the sun and _____. Many people believe it’s the ultimate clean energy. Fusion _____ create lots of energy with little fuel and no harmful _____ emissions.

The scientists used deuterium and tritium, _____ of hydrogen, in the machine.

To _____ fusion energy, the team heated the machine to _____ million degrees Celsius. That’s about 10 _____ hotter than the sun. This extreme heat makes the deuterium and tritium _____ together into helium. This _____ creates even more heat.

The machine has strong _____ that keep the heat in place. The heat is then used to _____ electricity.

This experiment is the last _____ for JET, which has been operating for over _____ years. This last experiment and its new _____ are good news for future fusion _____. 

Fusion energy could help stop _____ change, but the technology won’t be ready for many _____ years. There are still many challenges. For example, _____ the experiment used more energy than it created.