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The Hindu
3 hours ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Five-day science exhibition begins at Agriculture college in Shivamogga
Anvesanotsava 2025, the five-day national science exhibition organised by Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences began on the university college campus in Shivamogga on Monday. The exhibition attracts schoolchildren, as it includes participation of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum (VITM), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Institute for Plasma Research, Aryabhata Mobile Planetarium, Karnataka State Scientific Research Council, among other agencies. The Institute for Plasma Research in Gujarat has exhibited its devices, which include a plasma fusion device (Tokamak), a high frequency plasma device used to treat skin. Aryabhata Mobile Planetarium gives special experience to participants. The DRDO has exhibited the models of radars it has developed and a documentary about its anti-satellite missile test. Two buses from the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum carry the models on science concepts. Karnataka State Scientific Research Council president Hulikal Nataraj, who inaugurated the exhibition, said that it would help inculcate scientific temperament among children. 'We should ensure people remain curious about scientific developments and innovations. The curiosity will drive towards new inventions. The exhibition is a good attempt in this regard,' he stated. He also appreciated the participation of reputed institutions in the exhibition. Deputy Conservator of Forests, Shivamogga, G.R. Ajjaiah opined that the science exhibitions would help create interest in scientific innovations among young minds. Such events were essential for the nation to become a developed country by 2047. R.C. Jagadeesha, Vice-Chancellor of the university, and others were present. The university has invited schoolchildren to visit the exhibition. The organisers are expecting a turnout of over 5,000 students every day.
NDTV
07-06-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Scientists Smash Nuclear Fusion Record, Igniting Hope For Limitless Clean Energy
Scientists in Germany have taken a giant leap towards producing near-limitless, clean energy using nuclear fusion -- the same fiery reaction that takes place in the core of the Sun. Using the Wendelstein 7-X nuclear fusion reactor, the researchers managed to sustain the fusion experiment for an impressive 43 seconds, smashing the previous records, according to a report in LiveScience. Developing nuclear fusion for energy requirements has long been a goal of scientists but reaching temperatures over 100 million degrees Celsius and sustaining its long-term operation has always proved a challenge. Moreover, current reactor concepts consume more energy than they are able to produce. However, using the machine with extremely low-density and electrically charged hydrogen gas as fuel, scientists managed to achieve the breakthrough. Wendelstein 7-X, officially called a 'stellarator', is a type of fusion device that confines hot, charged gas, known as plasma, with powerful external magnets controlling it. On May 22, plasma inside Wendelstein 7-X was raised to over 20 million Celsius, reaching a peak of 30 million Celsius. It also reached a new record high triple product, a key metric for the success of fusion power generators. The triple product is a combination of the density of particles in the plasma, the temperature required for these particles to fuse, and the energy confinement time. "The new record is a tremendous achievement by the international team. Elevating the triple product to tokamak levels during long plasma pulses marks another important milestone on the way toward a power-plant-capable stellarator," said Thomas Klinger, Head of Operations at Wendelstein 7-X. Notably, the highest values for the triple product were achieved by the Japanese Tokamak JT60U (decommissioned in 2008) and the European Tokamak facility JET in Great Britain (decommissioned in 2023). Holy grail Scientists regard nuclear fusion as the holy grail of energy. It is what powers our Sun as atomic nuclei are merged to create massive amounts of energy, which is the opposite of the fission process used in atomic weapons and nuclear power plants, where the heavy atom is split into multiple smaller ones. Last year, the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) fusion energy reactor, dubbed China's 'artificial sun', sustained plasma for a whopping 1,000 seconds, breaking the 403-second record it set in 2023. Unlike fission, fusion emits no greenhouse gases and carries less risk of accidents or the theft of atomic material. By mimicking the natural reaction of the sun, scientists are hoping that the technology may help harness near-unlimited amounts of energy and help battle the energy crisis, as well as power humanity's exploration beyond the solar system
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Business Standard
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
India helps world's largest nuclear fusion project cross key milestone
In a major boost for clean energy, the world's biggest nuclear fusion project has completed its central magnet system, with India playing a critical role in building several key components, a PTI report said on Wednesday. The ITER project, underway in southern France, aims to replicate the energy of the sun by fusing hydrogen atoms to generate carbon-free power. Unlike traditional nuclear power which uses fission, nuclear fusion creates no long-term radioactive waste. The final module of ITER's Central Solenoid, the powerful magnet that drives the fusion reaction, was recently built in the US and will soon be installed. Once operational, it will be strong enough to lift an aircraft carrier and will form the heart of the Tokamak, ITER's doughnut-shaped reactor. ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) is a collaboration between more than 30 countries including India, the US, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and EU nations. It is designed to produce 500 megawatts of power from just 50 megawatts of input, creating a self-sustaining state known as 'burning plasma' that is the ultimate goal of fusion research. 'What makes ITER unique is not only its technical complexity but the framework of international cooperation that has sustained it through changing political landscapes,' ITER Director-General Pietro Barabaschi was quoted as saying. 'The ITER Project is the embodiment of hope. With ITER, we show that a sustainable energy future and a peaceful path forward are possible,' he added. Next steps for nuclear fusion Earlier this year, ITER successfully installed the first part of its vacuum vessel. The rest of the machine is being assembled piece by piece. Though ITER won't produce electricity, it will prove that fusion works at scale and lay the groundwork for commercial fusion plants. Private companies are also now investing in fusion, and ITER has launched programmes to share research and accelerate progress. Funding and fair access As a host, Europe is covering 45 per cent of the project's costs. The other six partners, including India, each contribute around 9 per cent. All members will share full access to data, technology and patents developed from the project.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists make progress on ultra-futuristic device that could generate virtually unlimited energy — here's the tech that's bringing it one step closer to reality
Scientists may be one step closer to unlocking the virtually unlimited energy of nuclear fusion thanks to the development of a cutting-edge device that can superheat plasma. As Interesting Engineering reported, Japan-based Kyoto Fusioneering built a 1-megawatt gyrotron — a device that generates high-power microwave radiation required for heating and controlling plasma in fusion reactors. The futuristic tool could be the key to helping Tokamak Energy, a private fusion power company in the United Kingdom, achieve sustainable, commercially viable fusion energy. "The new gyrotron will generate high-power electromagnetic waves for controlling and heating a hydrogen plasma many times hotter than the centre of the sun," Tokamak Energy said in a press release. "It will also be used to start up and drive plasma current." The company received the gyrotron in late December and plans to install it on its spherical tokamak ST40 this year. Once the fuel-heating technology is operational, Tokamak and several of its partners, including the U.S. Department of Energy, will begin testing lithium on the inner wall of the ST40 for a future fusion pilot plant. According to Tokamak Energy, the ST40 tokamak is the "most advanced of its kind in the world," achieving a record 100 million degrees Celsius (more than 180 million degrees Fahrenheit) plasma ion temperature in 2022. This is over six times hotter than the sun's core temperature and is considered the threshold for commercial fusion energy. The ultra-powerful gyrotron will further Tokamak's efforts to produce nuclear fusion for commercial use by 2030, as the International Energy Forum reported. The IEF explained that nuclear fusion generates nearly 4 million times more energy than dirty fuels such as coal, oil, and gas and four times more than nuclear fission. Since it doesn't produce carbon dioxide, other polluting gases, or long-lived radioactive waste, it's an ideal clean, low-cost energy source to potentially power the world in the future. And gyrotrons will likely play a major role in bringing sustainable fusion power to homes and cities. Interesting Engineering said that gyrotrons offer several benefits that can drive progress in fusion research, including their ability to superheat plasma and transmit microwave radiation through waveguides, allowing for more flexibility in positioning. The technology also reduces the size needed for the central solenoid — a key component in tokamaks that generates a strong magnetic field used to initiate and maintain the plasma current during the fusion process. Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "A gyrotron, which uses Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ECRH), solves one of the key challenges for a spherical tokamak – limited space for a central solenoid, which would otherwise be required to induce the plasma current," Tokamak Energy stated. Tokamak said it plans to use both its current neutral beam injection heating system and gyrotron heating on the ST40 to better understand the balance needed for future spherical tokamak pilot plants. Ross Morgan, director of strategic partnerships at Tokamak Energy, said, "We're excited to work with our partners Kyoto Fusioneering to add this important upgrade to our record-breaking fusion machine, and continue to operate ST40 to test and push new boundaries." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
