With a powerful laser blast, scientists near a nuclear fusion milestone
A National Ignition Facility experiment produced a record 1.3 million joules of fusion energy
![laser blast in a nuclear fusion experiment](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/081821_ec_nuclear-fusion_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
Scientists at the National Ignition Facility have produced record-breaking energy in a nuclear fusion experiment. Such fusion experiments, like the 2016 test shown in this colorized image, use powerful laser blasts to compress hydrogen fuel and kick off fusion.
Don Jedlovec/LLNL