Ignition Achieved

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) has done it again, but this time, the margin is commercially viable. By focusing 192 laser beams onto a peppercorn-sized fuel pellet, scientists achieved a net energy gain of 250%—meaning the reaction produced 2.5 times more energy than was used to start it.

"This is no longer a physics problem," says Dr. Aria Vance. "It is an engineering problem. We know it works. Now we just have to build the power plant."

The Private Sector Race

While government labs lead the science, startups are leading the speed. Companies like Helion and Commonwealth Fusion Systems are betting on different magnetic architectures (tokamaks vs. stellarators) to reach the grid first. Microsoft has already signed a purchase agreement for fusion power by 2028—a sign of immense corporate confidence.