Unlocking the Gates of Infinity
For We Have Tasted the Fruit
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This early reactor is still a primitive device, built with cutting-edge technology and the ingenuity of thousands of minds, but it remains a mere shadow in the glory of the stars, and still a far cry from our vision of an energy source to surpass all others, but it is a beginning, and a beginning is enough.
Nuclear Fusion
"How does this work?", you may ask. Energy is produced during nuclear fusion because the total mass of the combined nuclei is less than the mass of the separate nuclei, meaning that energy is produced as a byproduct.
The reactor produced by the institution combines two specific isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium and tritium, which are fused together to form the element helium, with massive production of energy as a byproduct. This process was determined to be the most likely to generate results, and the research has paid off.
In order to achieve this reaction, the nuclear fusion reactor generates, confines, and controls extremely hot plasma, leading to electrons tearing away from their atoms to form ions, overcoming repulsive forces to fuse together and create large atoms, a process that generates a massive amount of energy. A magnetic field is used to contain this plasma and manipulate it, with massive magnetic coils being used in the device. Safety measures have been implemented to avoid malfunctions and protect lives in the event of a malfunction, and the reactor has thus far been able to generate massive amounts of energy through this process.
The Beginning of this Journey
It is a well-known fact among those knowledgeable in our foundation that we were founded as a research organization and political think tank with a focus on the environment, recruiting scientists and engineers to provide them the funds and resources to pursue their visions of a better world. Various divisions focused on solar, wind, hydroelectric, and other forms of renewable energy; other conducted research on ecosystems and the effects of climate change. Still, one visionary division saw the potential in nuclear fusion, seeing the potential in the undeveloped technology and believing that it could be the key to many of the world's energy problems.
The High Academician of the Foundation saw potential in this idea and encouraged a focus on the development of nuclear fusion; this was nine years ago, on the 6th of June, 2006, and since then, physicists, engineers, and chemists alike have invested their efforts in this endeavor, seeking the power to create the energy source that would bring clean energy to the world. Known unofficially as the "Tesla Branch" by both themselves and much of the Foundation itself, the site chosen for the construction of a fusion reactor was the village of Shoreham, New York, in the United States of America. The site was chosen for its historical significance in the history of electricity in the United States, the village being the site of the last attempt in the country to construct a nuclear fission power plant, along with the additional factor that in the event of a terrible accident, civilian casualties could be kept to a minimum.
It had been a vision of the Foundation to discover the secrets of nuclear fusion since its founding sixteen years ago, and though it has now achieved its goal, this is not the end of the journey. There remains more to come from this technology, and it is the mission of the Foundation to continue on this path and fully utilize the potential of this development. This is the mission of the Foundation and it will continue to follow this to the best of its ability.
Safety
Nuclear fusion, unlike nuclear fission, does not operate off of a chain reaction and thus is a safer process; likewise, the process of energy production does not produce long-lived, radioactive products. The nuclear fusion plant developed by the Foundation has very little fuel in the reactor while it is operational and the reactor is outfitted with safety measures, particularly a rapid cooling device to stop the reactions in event of a malfunction. Furthermore, the atoms used in reaction - with the exception of tritium, which in itself has a half-life of only 12.6 years - are not radioactive. As a result, radioactive materials need not be disposed of, protecting the environment. Altogether, nuclear fusion provides a safe alternative to other forms of energy production, and though there may be unforeseen risks with the technology that have remained hidden in its infancy, this in itself is insufficient to keep us from exploring this field, and the utmost safety measures will be used in the production of energy through this system.
Stepping into the Future
If nuclear fusion were to take a predominant role in the production of energy, gone would be the days of fossil fuels; no more of the risks associated with drilling, no more of the release of greenhouse gases. The threat of global warming would be slowed, buying humanity much-needed time to advance and to evolve. Energy could be produced to suit the world's needs, the power of the stars held in the hands of humanity and used for the good of humanity.
Imagine a world where humanity could expand its horizons, fuel journeys across the solar system and perhaps even to distant stars. Fusion power can provide this; reactors could power spaceships, replacing the rocket fuel of old. If this power could be produced cheaply, space travel could become a common thing, as prominent as air travel in the modern day.
This change would not be without its repercussions, however. Fusion would completely change the energy market; the geopolitical structure of the planet would suddenly change. The riches of the old world would fade away as oil and natural gas lose their value when faced with stiff competition. The power of those who quickly develop this technology would grow, furthering the distance between nations of different standing, and there is liable to be turmoil in nations fueled by the exportation of fossil fuels. But even still, no change was ever perfect. There will be suffering, yes, but the potential to build a better future lies in the development of this technology. Fusion power is the future, and it is we that will work to build it.