Weekly: Record-breaking fusion experiments inch the world closer to new source of clean energy

Feb 9, 2024

This week, two major milestones in fusion energy were achieved, bringing us closer to practical and sustainable fusion power. The Panama Canal is experiencing shipping delays due to a historic drought, raising concerns about the impact of climate change on shipping costs and Panama's economy. Microdosing LSD leads to changes in brain activity without psychedelic effects. Other topics include unique ocean thunderstorms, a riddle about a legless animal, and the discovery of a rare Somali worm lizard.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Fusion Milestones

Two major fusion milestones occurred: Lawrence Livermore Lab's experiment broke even on energy output, and the UK's JET reactor set a new energy output record.
These advances bring us closer to practical fusion energy, but significant challenges remain, including improving laser efficiency and achieving continuous reactions.

INSIGHT

Panama Canal Drought

A historic drought in Panama is causing shipping delays due to low water levels in the Panama Canal.
This drought impacts global shipping costs and Panama's economy, raising concerns about climate change's impact on infrastructure.

INSIGHT

Microdosing LSD and Brain Complexity

Microdosing LSD increases brain signal complexity without causing psychedelic effects.
This finding suggests that consciousness and neural complexity are distinct, as THC and methamphetamine didn't show the same effect.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

#236

This week marks two major milestones in the world of fusion. In 2022 a fusion experiment at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory created more power than was required to sustain it – now, the same team has improved this record by 25 per cent, releasing almost twice the energy that was put in. Meanwhile, the UK’s JET reactor set a new world record for total energy output from any fusion reaction, just before it shut down for good late last year. Why these two milestones inch us closer to practical, sustainable fusion energy – but still leave a significant distance to go.

A historic drought has caused a shipping traffic jam in the Panama Canal, one of the world’s most important shipping routes. Record low levels of water mean fewer ships can pass through the intricate system of locks that carry them across the narrow strip of land. As climate change increases the likelihood of extreme drought, how could this impact both the cost of shipping goods and Panama’s economy?

Microdosing LSD may not have psychedelic effects, but it still causes noticeable changes in the brain. Researchers gave people tiny amounts of the drug while measuring their brain activity and noticed their brain signals became far more complex, even though they didn’t feel any hallucinatory effects. What this study tells us about the relationship between consciousness and neural complexity.

Magma flowing into a giant crack formed by this year’s volcanic eruption in Iceland was caught moving at a rate of 7400 cubic metres per second – the fastest ever recorded for this kind of event. The kilometres-long crack first began producing eruptions in December last year, and another began just this week. So what’s next for the people living nearby?

Plus: The asteroid Bennu may be a chunk of an ocean world; a new, lightning-dense thunderstorm spotted by satellites; rediscovering the bizarre-looking sharp-snouted Somali worm lizard after more than 90 years.

Hosts Christie Taylor and Sophie Bushwick discuss with guests Matt Sparkes, James Dinneen, Grace Wade and Michael Le Page. To read more about these stories, visit newscientist.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices