When you think of NASA you might envisage the Moon landings, voyager space probes or the Hubble telescope. But for NASA to push humanity deeper into the enigma of space they need cutting edge technology. Over the past few decades NASA engineers have invented everything from cochlear implants to scratch-resistant lenses and even the memory foam in your mattress. But in recent years NASA engineers have stumbled across something profound. An entirely new and revolutionary method of fusion that seems to solve all of the current problems with this potentially planet-saving technology. So has NASA just cracked fusion energy?
Before we dive into NASA’s fantastic invention let’s look at the current methods, why they have significant problems and why fusion power could save the world.
Nuclear fusion is the process of forcing two atoms together with so much force that they fuse into a single, larger atom and, in doing so, release an incredible amount of energy. But it does take a lot of energy to get even the lightest atoms to fuse. For example, nuclear fusion powers our Sun, but only in the very core of the star under insane temperatures and pressures does hydrogen fuse, which is the easiest element to fuse.
The Sun is powered by fusion — WikiCC
In theory, we could harness fusion to fuel our power-hungry modern lives, but there is a problem. Earth is under far less pressure than the core of the Sun so it takes even more energy to get hydrogen atoms to fuse. To make matters worse, the machines we have built to create fusion are very inefficient, so we can’t yet get more energy out than it takes to get these fusion reactors going.
This is partly due to the fact the three main ways we fuse hydrogen require big, complex and inefficient machines. Magnetic confinement reactors and magnetic target reactors use massive superconducting magnets to push hydrogen plasma together with enough force to create fusion. The only problem is that these magnetics need to be super-cooled to work and the energy required to do so is vast. Then there are internal confinement reactors that use lasers to heat a small pellet filled with hydrogen to insane temperatures that will initiate fusion. But these mega-powerful lasers also need massive, complex and power-hungry machinery to work. These parasitic losses are why we have yet to get more energy out than we put into a fusion reactor.
Inside a magnetic confinement reactor with overlay during operation — WikiCC
But fusion energy may be vital to saving the world. In theory, they have all of the benefits of nuclear power, no carbon emissions, compact size and on-tap energy and very high output, without any of the drawbacks like nuclear meltdowns, radioactive waste or dangerous fuels. In short, if we could power the world with fusion reactors we could finally transition into the sustainable, carbon neutral society we need to be to preserve our beautiful Earth.
This is where NASA comes in. While trying to figure out a new way to power their deep space probes, NASA scientists figured out a way to build a fusion reactor that is a lot more simple, way more compact and potentially far more efficient than any we have today. They have called their incredible invention the lattice confinement reactor.
The geniuses at NASA used a far more elegant and low-powered way to get hydrogen atoms dense enough to fuse. They utilises a metallic lattice of erbium saturated with deuterium, a type of hydrogen atom.
At the molecular level, all metals have a crystal structure. This basically means the atoms are joined in a uniform and repeating pattern known as a lattice.
https://zenodo.org/communities/rosa93518duewall
https://zenodo.org/communities/gisela61080fecto
https://zenodo.org/communities/suhad72629allin
https://zenodo.org/communities/volviendose-rojo-rudo90813morasca
https://zenodo.org/communities/volviendose-rojo-lejeunegeraldeen
https://zenodo.org/communities/volviendose-rojo-saharamagdaleen
https://zenodo.org/communities/volviendose-rojo-alierrabija68023
https://zenodo.org/communities/volviendose-rojo-ramonatlis36655
https://zenodo.org/communities/volviendose-rojo-augspurger26002
https://zenodo.org/communities/volviendose-rojo-dennington10882
https://zenodo.org/communities/alerte-rouge-virts8788soheila
https://zenodo.org/communities/alerte-rouge-84683gersuvasher
https://zenodo.org/communities/alerte-rouge-40839ilaniemeara
https://zenodo.org/communities/alerte-rouge-judah14316jalee
https://zenodo.org/communities/alerte-rouge-niedermeier26073
https://zenodo.org/communities/alerte-rouge-milson86825lyndy
https://zenodo.org/communities/alerte-rouge-sabala17411jeric
https://zenodo.org/communities/alerte-rouge-17173sederikuiz
https://zenodo.org/communities/alerte-rouge-ryba6728michaela
https://zenodo.org/communities/alerte-rouge-63701cradykedus
https://zenodo.org/communities/alerte-rouge-sturgiscamillia
https://zenodo.org/communities/spider-man-no-way-home-70200oivindmagni
https://zenodo.org/communities/spider-man-no-way-home-elaiastillabower
https://zenodo.org/communities/encanto-sohr38583lissner
https://zenodo.org/communities/encanto-adi84983herbjorn
https://zenodo.org/communities/vumlatufya-alerte-rouge-new
https://zenodo.org/communities/turning-red-alerte-rouge-new
https://zenodo.org/communities/vsfdgjureqfbiscuit
https://zenodo.org/communities/gayustambunan-nih-bos
https://zenodo.org/communities/sendal-ilang-ambilsepatu
https://zenodo.org/communities/the-basreng-teh-lilis
https://zenodo.org/communities/masak-aer-biarmateng
https://zenodo.org/communities/malibiscuitkids
https://zenodo.org/communities/facial-tissue-uhuwsd
https://zenodo.org/communities/ormas-rasa-jeruk
https://zenodo.org/communities/uasdk-sdafgbhjefikjhskjojifwpdm
https://zenodo.org/communities/nativeempty
https://zenodo.org/communities/fatherbelong
https://zenodo.org/communities/judgeuniverse-volviendose-rojo
https://zenodo.org/communities/volviendose-rojo-ffhihgfsoih
https://zenodo.org/communities/volviendose-rojo-turning-red-images-backdrops
https://zenodo.org/communities/sfnihdfiuhyr-volviendose-rojo
https://zenodo.org/communities/dsfsdjhiuytt-volviendose-rojo
https://zenodo.org/communities/cusdhgfiug-volviendose-rojo
https://zenodo.org/communities/volviendose-rojo-turning-red-images-backdrops
https://zenodo.org/communities/gfhbfgdh2022-volviendose-rojo
https://zenodo.org/communities/conversationd
https://zenodo.org/communities/premixetzzzzz
https://zenodo.org/communities/x-premixetz
https://zenodo.org/communities/xpremixetzz
https://zenodo.org/communities/theadamsss
https://zenodo.org/communities/projectscp
https://zenodo.org/communities/dayday
https://zenodo.org/communities/dayatodiea
https://zenodo.org/communities/wekeendday
https://zenodo.org/communities/daywekeend
https://zenodo.org/communities/batmandgyawy
https://zenodo.org/communities/batmantheeee
https://zenodo.org/communities/exitnoooo
https://zenodo.org/communities/noexittttt
https://zenodo.org/communities/perryperry
https://zenodo.org/communities/perryhomecoming
https://zenodo.org/communities/goldbig
https://zenodo.org/communities/biggold
https://zenodo.org/communities/studio666
https://zenodo.org/communities/666studio
https://zenodo.org/communities/texaschainsas
https://zenodo.org/communities/chainsastexas
https://zenodo.org/communities/restlesswatch
https://zenodo.org/communities/watchrestless
https://zenodo.org/communities/athursday
https://zenodo.org/communities/thurtdayaaaa
https://zenodo.org/communities/doggggg
https://zenodo.org/communities/dogyyyy
https://zenodo.org/communities/iwantyyouback
https://zenodo.org/communities/youbackiwant
https://zenodo.org/communities/againttheice
https://zenodo.org/communities/againsticeee
https://zenodo.org/communities/backlight
https://zenodo.org/communities/backlighttttt
https://zenodo.org/communities/watchkimi
https://zenodo.org/communities/kimiwatch
https://zenodo.org/communities/deatonthenile
https://zenodo.org/communities/deatonthenileeeee
https://zenodo.org/communities/marryme
https://zenodo.org/communities/marrymeeee
https://zenodo.org/communities/watchuncharted
https://zenodo.org/communities/unchartedwatch
https://zenodo.org/communities/jacksssforever
https://zenodo.org/communities/foreverjacksss
https://zenodo.org/communities/thetinderswindler
https://zenodo.org/communities/windlerthetinders
https://zenodo.org/communities/wattchmoonfalll
https://zenodo.org/communities/moonfalllwatchhh
https://zenodo.org/communities/watchhometeam
https://zenodo.org/communities/hometeamwatch
https://zenodo.org/communities/redeeminglove
https://zenodo.org/communities/loveredeminggg
https://zenodo.org/communities/jujutsukaisen0
https://zenodo.org/communities/kaisenjujutsu0
https://zenodo.org/communities/spidermannnnwayhome
https://zenodo.org/communities/spidermannowayhomeee
https://zenodo.org/communities/againyicee
https://zenodo.org/communities/theiceagaintttt
https://zenodo.org/communities/theiceagainttttrt
https://zenodo.org/communities/theiceagainttttrttheee
https://zenodo.org/communities/againyiceetheeee
https://zenodo.org/communities/batmanwatch
https://zenodo.org/communities/watchthebatman
https://zenodo.org/communities/thebatmanwatch
https://zenodo.org/communities/batmannntheee
https://zenodo.org/communities/thebatmannnn
https://paste.ee/p/pdpMK
https://ide.geeksforgeeks.org/m6InS2jrMj
https://pastelink.net/muttvtxn
https://ideone.com/86ql7Y
https://ideone.com/embed/86ql7Y
https://paiza.io/projects/WwYeNaHhtj5drGQVuWNFMw
http://allabouturanch.com/forum/topics/sdfuwgefiugwekufgwkifu
https://m.mydigoo.com/forums-topicdetail-431787.html
https://shapshare.com/read-blog/80307
https://www.click4r.com/posts/g/3980025/sdejwrywieuyrwerhslkdjfsdf
http://www.4mark.net/story/5999549/sadfhwekfgkweugfwef
https://zenodo.org/communities/nativeempty/
https://zenodo.org/communities/fatherbelong/
https://zenodo.org/communities/judgeuniverse-volviendose-rojo/
https://zenodo.org/communities/volviendose-rojo-ffhihgfsoih/
https://zenodo.org/communities/volviendose-rojo-turning-red-images-backdrops/
https://zenodo.org/communities/sfnihdfiuhyr-volviendose-rojo/
https://zenodo.org/communities/dsfsdjhiuytt-volviendose-rojo/
https://zenodo.org/communities/cusdhgfiug-volviendose-rojo/
https://zenodo.org/communities/volviendose-rojo-turning-red-images-backdrops/
https://zenodo.org/communities/gfhbfgdh2022-volviendose-rojo/
https://zenodo.org/communities/fghfjyjiliu7lowt/
https://zenodo.org/communities/yqwiuetyium-bcads/
https://zenodo.org/communities/fhaweihfosdofmkmidh/
https://zenodo.org/communities/jdukjutkefrweryhjrsd/
https://zenodo.org/communities/tyuebkwpikfvejbfl/
https://zenodo.org/communities/bshhj-wsdfasdnkljhn02654src/
https://zenodo.org/communities/fheriuhgiedvihihefrd/
https://zenodo.org/communities/ieocmwmpmvbfenmsws/
https://zenodo.org/communities/zqmopim-dlhjopd/
https://zenodo.org/communities/wqeoiyfowibvwdfvh/
https://zenodo.org/communities/fgergh8-fauhfhjgfa4fw/
https://zenodo.org/communities/vgsdfrg-pladimirputin/
https://zenodo.org/communities/dasdhgofp-ghfdgkjlf-sdfs-covid19/
https://zenodo.org/communities/faergf-pemudapancasilarasajeruk/
https://zenodo.org/communities/vfsdvihfawsoiugfawfjhk67645ui/
https://zenodo.org/communities/never-give-up-russia/
https://zenodo.org/communities/fawehfwiur89453hjofheakj/
https://zenodo.org/communities/poaifp-sdjho-gdhthfhyhjkghvk/
https://zenodo.org/communities/ngopibarengyudek/
https://zenodo.org/communities/cgsdaguy-cdshlc-garrereahg/
https://zenodo.org/communities/vumlatufya-alerte-rouge-new/
https://zenodo.org/communities/turning-red-alerte-rouge-new/
https://zenodo.org/communities/vsfdgjureqfbiscuit/
https://zenodo.org/communities/gayustambunan-nih-bos/
https://zenodo.org/communities/sendal-ilang-ambilsepatu/
https://zenodo.org/communities/the-basreng-teh-lilis/
https://zenodo.org/communities/masak-aer-biarmateng/
https://zenodo.org/communities/malibiscuitkids/
https://zenodo.org/communities/facial-tissue-uhuwsd/
https://zenodo.org/communities/ormas-rasa-jeruk/
https://zenodo.org/communities/uasdk-sdafgbhjefikjhskjojifwpdm/
https://zenodo.org/communities/wirosablenk/
https://zenodo.org/communities/indomigoerngaceh/
https://zenodo.org/communities/woy-jangan-ambilbuf-gw/
https://zenodo.org/communities/apakah-kamu-tak-mau-berteman-dengannana/
https://zenodo.org/communities/kitabutuhtank/
https://zenodo.org/communities/nucler-kimi-marksman/
https://zenodo.org/communities/fanydarat-beg0/
https://zenodo.org/communities/the-batman-combo-ultymate/
https://zenodo.org/communities/denganekstra-alang-alang/
https://zenodo.org/communities/stop-war-thebatman/
https://zenodo.org/communities/bdfwolfsakjbldvamnvk/
https://zenodo.org/communities/dshloiurlleuv0fv-vdfvaswqdnjjk/
https://zenodo.org/communities/sdfgdghh-vsddfb/
https://zenodo.org/communities/vfdsvln-vsdjhksdzjblfd/
https://zenodo.org/communities/nato-fdsmjhjdhsggfkklhfglksvb/
https://zenodo.org/communities/dafsrgdfhggfdh-ella-basah/
https://zenodo.org/communities/sfdgbgdbs-gvdsfjkh/
https://zenodo.org/communities/vshdoheipoioiopuiew/
https://zenodo.org/communities/cwdsafikhlvasdhikuhvfdsugl/
https://zenodo.org/communities/dwqeytfiuvabkabnmv/
Diagram of lattice confinement reaction and associated stripping reaction — NASA
For very complex reasons, of which I don’t have time to go into here, hydrogen can be pushed into certain metal lattices and occupy the spaces between the metal atoms. Not only that, but in the case of the metal erbium, the density of hydrogen within the metal is massive as the metallic bonds push the hydrogen very close together. When this happens, the material is known as deuterated erbium.
Now, this isn’t enough force to cause those hydrogen atoms to fuse. But it is dam close. All the NASA engineers had to do was shoot some gamma-rays at the deuterated erbium. Some of these gamma rays will hit a hydrogen atom directly and cause it to ‘disassociate’ and turn into a fast-moving neutron and proton. The fast-moving neutron bumps into another hydrogen atom causing it to ping off at high speeds like a fast snooker shot. This new high-speed hydrogen atom hits another with enough force to cause our all-important fusion!
