EAST breaks limit, Fusion magnet installation, AI speeds tokamak design, Pilot plant certified by DOE, TAE merges with TMTG

Mechanical design engineer Jasmine Mund gives this week's Fusion News update - summarizing behind the headlines of recent fusion energy news articles. Links to the stories discussed are included below.EAST breaks fusion density limit  https://www.neimagazine.com/news/east-breaks-fusion-density-limit/US energy company installs first fusion magnet, nears clean power breakthrough https://interestingengineering.com/ces-2026/us-firm-first-nuclear-fusion-magnet AI speeds UK fusion tokamak design by 100,000 times https://channellife.co.uk/story/ai-speeds-uk-fusion-tokamak-design-by-100-000-times Thea Energy’s fusion pilot plant preconceptual design certified by U.S. Dept. of Energy https://www.roi-nj.com/2026/01/13/industry/energy-utilities/thea-energys-fusion-pilot-plant-preconceptual-design-certified-by-u-s-dept-of-energy/ Why is Truth Social owner Trump Media merging with a fusion energy firm? https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/19/trump-media-tae-technologies-energy-merger Bonus:https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly3x7pz28mo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inDGDyz3MNEhttps://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/fia-annual-conference-2026/