19th February 2021

Radiating lithium pellets, local heroes, double-pulsed laser beams and engineering for fusion. A summary of recent fusion energy news stories presented by Dr Hazel Lowe, Plasma Diagnostician at Tokamak Energy. Links to all the articles mentioned are below for further reading. Fusion news stories discussed: 1. Lithium could help control extreme heat in future fusion facilities https://www.mining.com/lithium-could-help-control-extreme-heat-in-future-fusion-facilities/ 2. 'Trailblazing': Lancaster hoping to be home to planet's first ever nuclear fusion plant… and other local stories https://www.lep.co.uk/business/trailblazing-lancaster-hoping-be-home-planets-first-ever-nuclear-fusion-plant-3129149 https://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/news/19091156.bid-create-first-ever-nuclear-fusion-plant-berkeley-oldbury/ https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/cumbria-pins-fusion-nuclear-hopes-on-moorside/ 3. Activating Relativistic Effects of Intense Laser Light in Plasma for Nuclear Fusion https://scitechdaily.com/activating-relativistic-effects-of-intense-laser-light-in-plasma-for-nuclear-fusion/ 4. Empowered by fusion https://www.neimagazine.com/features/featureempowered-by-fusion-8509991/ Bonus1. https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2021/02/view-from-brussels-financially-fit-fusion/ Bonus2. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/12/commonwealth-fusion-backed-by-gates-bezos-for-unlimited-clean-energy.html Bonus3. https://physicsworld.com/a/green-technology-and-growth-a-vision-we-can-believe-in/