Artificial Sun
year:
2023
The contemporary development of nuclear fusion energy – distinct from current fission reactors – has everything of a Promethean myth. In fact, mainstream press and scientists generally characterize experimental fusion reactors as small artificial ‘‘suns’’ on Earth, as they reproduce the reaction of atoms happening on our star.
Theoretically able to deploy safe inexhaustible power whilst producing harmless waste, they represent energy’s Holy Grail for contemporary human societies; a light at the end of the tunnel for the growing consequences of a dependent relationship with nonrenewable energy consumption. In the Greek tale, Prometheus stole fire from the gods and offered it to humanity in the form of technique and knowledge, one could easily find resonances in the fusion energy effort.
location:
Lausanne, Switzerlandteam:
Yves Martin (physicist)year:
2023
commissioner:
TCV Tokamak of the Swiss Plasma CenterThe contemporary development of nuclear fusion energy – distinct from current fission reactors – has everything of a Promethean myth. In fact, mainstream press and scientists generally characterize experimental fusion reactors as small artificial ‘‘suns’’ on Earth, as they reproduce the reaction of atoms happening on our star.
Theoretically able to deploy safe inexhaustible power whilst producing harmless waste, they represent energy’s Holy Grail for contemporary human societies; a light at the end of the tunnel for the growing consequences of a dependent relationship with nonrenewable energy consumption. In the Greek tale, Prometheus stole fire from the gods and offered it to humanity in the form of technique and knowledge, one could easily find resonances in the fusion energy effort.
image of the Sun, NASA