20 good things that happened in 2017

19. Fusion reactors got a lot closer to being a reality

People have been talking about fusion reactors for so long without real-world human-made results that it sometimes feels like it can only exist in the realm of science fiction. That concept got one big step closer to reality this year.

Of course, fusion reactions exist in nature. The sun is one gigantic fusion reactor, in fact. It’s constantly cramming hydrogen atoms together into helium. The energy produced by these fusions eventually makes it out of the sun in the form of heat and light.

Humans are pretty good at fission reactions, wherein we split atoms and harness the resulting energy from those broken atomic bombs. Take the unfortunate example of atomic bombs, where the right kinds of fission reactions can create staggeringly destructive explosions. In a more positive light, nuclear fission can be used to produce relatively efficient energy for many people.

While the nuclear fission process is relatively “clean” compared to power sources like coal-fired plants and the oil and gas industry, it’s far from perfect. Nuclear plants produce fuel rods that, though depleted and no longer fit for use, are still highly radioactive. And it’s not as if you can simply toss those fuel rods into the local landfill. Disposal of nuclear waste requires significant investment and some far-future thinking.

The promise of nuclear fusion

But what if we could come up with an energy source that had the longevity and efficiency of a nuclear reactor, but with far, far less dangerous waste produced? That’s the vision of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) nuclear fusion project.

ITER is an international effort with a major facility in southern France. Though this experimental site experienced some difficulties, organizers now say they are back on track. That’s thanks in part to some truly impressive feats of engineering; producing reliable nuclear fusion reactions is a complicated and intensive matter.

This announcement means that ITER’s experimental facility could be producing clean energy as early as 2025. Soon enough, they may be joined by other researchers, including some working with Google.