TechCrunch Industry News Zap Energy ramps up the pressure in its latest fusion device; plus, Stack Overflow is remaking itself into an AI data provider
Nov 18, 2025
Zap Energy's Fuze-3 device is making waves by achieving record plasma pressures and extreme temperatures, aiming to redefine future fusion plants. Meanwhile, Stack Overflow is transforming its platform into an AI-friendly data resource, focusing on translating human expertise into accessible formats. Discover how it's harnessing metadata and reliability scores to boost AI accuracy, along with exciting content partnerships shaping the future of problem-solving in tech.
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Record Pressure Advances Z-Pinch Fusion
- Zap Energy's Fuze-3 reached record plasma pressures and extreme temperatures that advance its sheared-flow Z-pinch program.
- These metrics matter because pressure, temperature, and duration (the triple product) determine progress toward fusion break-even.
Triple Product Is The True Benchmark
- Achieving high pressure is essential but not directly comparable across different fusion approaches.
- The triple product (temperature, pressure, duration) is the unified measure for whether a reactor can generate net power.
Significant Gap To Break-Even Remains
- Zap estimates it still needs roughly a tenfold increase in plasma pressure to reach scientific break-even.
- Only one other fusion experiment has hit that milestone, underscoring how far commercial fusion remains.