--- title: "Scientists Just Got Amazing Results From an Old Fusion Reactor" description: "A team of scientists found they achieved high pressure plasma and energy — in theory enough to achieve fusion power — at an old fusion reactor in San Diego." date: "2019-03-21" modified: "2019-03-21" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/scientists-amazing-results-old-fusion-reactor" categories: - "Energy" - "Science & Energy" tags: - "fusion" - "fusion energy" - "fusion power" - "fusion reactor" --- # Scientists Just Got Amazing Results From an Old Fusion Reactor ![A team of scientists found they achieved high pressure plasma — enough to achieve fusion power — at an old fusion reactor in San Diego called DIII-D.]() *\Image: ITER/Victor Tangermann\* ## Wrestle the Vessel A team of scientists achieved high pressure plasma — perhaps laying the groundwork to achieve fusion power, according to a [terrific explainer]() by *Ars Technica* — at an old fusion reactor in San Diego by reversing the orientation of the vessel that houses the plasma. Despite the promising results, whether or not the modification will lay the groundwork for useful fusion power in the future is still far from certain — but, at the very least, it's a fascinating example of squeezing interesting research out of dated equipment. ## Tokamak Triumph One possible route to practical fusion power takes the form of a massive and highly complex device called a "tokamak reactor," which confines high energy magnetic fields to control charged particles called plasma. Once both temperature and pressure levels are right, colliding particles release massive amounts of energy — or at least that's the idea. For the first time, researchers are finally inching closer to getting more energy out than they put in. The San Diego team — whose [paper on the findings]() was published in the journal *Physical Review Letters* — flipped the orientation of the plasma chamber of an old tokamak reactor called DIII-D, which has been in operation since the 80s. The result, according to *Ars*' analysis, was surprising: pressure ramped up enough to meet the requirements for fusion power reactions to occur, with energy levels much higher than expected. The plasma was also more stable — a big deal when it comes to observing fusion reactions inside a tokamak. ## Bigger Next Time As *Ars* points out, "in practice, DIII-D can never reach the right temperature or pressure for fusion, because it’s not big enough." But since scientists understand how the machines scale, a bigger fusion reactor could prove to be even more promising. The scientists are hoping to try a similar experiment, but with ramped up power. Maybe the result will surprise them again. **READ MORE:** [Physicists “flip the D” in tokamak, get unexpectedly good result]() \[*Ars Technica*\] **More on fusion power:** *[Expert: “I'm 100 Percent Confident” Fusion Power Will Be Practical]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()