Scientists have long pursued nuclear fusion as a sustainable energy solution due to its high energy output and minimal waste. However, the need for lithium 6, which is difficult to source without harming the environment, poses a challenge. Current supplies are limited to stockpiles from Cold War era nuclear programs. Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, led by Sarbajit Banerjee, have accidentally discovered a new, environmentally friendly method for extracting lithium 6 from brine. This breakthrough could significantly enhance the feasibility of nuclear fusion as a cleaner power source.
Banerjee and his team think they have found a new and environmentally safer way to extract lithium 6 from brine—and they came across it completely by accident.
Nuclear fusion, a reaction that powers stars such as our sun, generates energy by fusing atoms together.
The country currently relies on lithium 6 supplies that were stockpiled at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as part of nuclear weapons development programs during the cold war.
Many hope fusion could one day be a significant source of carbon-free power.
Collection
[
|
...
]