Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Nuclear fusion - statistics & facts
Nuclear fusion describes the collision and fusion of two or more atomic nuclei into one single nucleus. The resulting nucleus is lighter than the sum of the original nuclei, and the reaction releases energy, as illustrated by Einstein’s equation E=mc2. Fusion energy generation has several advantages compared to nuclear fission, the process that currently takes place in nuclear reactors: it is intrinsically safe, fusion fuel - or at least the hydrogen isotope deuterium, used in a reaction with the rare hydrogen isotope tritium - is easily accessible in nature, and the energy output per kilogram of fuel is around four times larger than that of nuclear fission. Furthermore, it does not produce radioactive waste and, just like nuclear fission, does not emit carbon dioxide. However, while fusion power would be a game changer for the global energy industry, harnessing viable electricity from fusion energy is still far off on the horizon.
![From what you know about nuclear energy, to what extent, if at all, do you support or oppose using [it] to generate electricity in your country?](https://cdn.statcdn.com/Statistic/1490000/1490935-blank-100.png)
