Is nuclear fusion a pipe-dream? Scientists are celebrating after breaking a record for producing energy. It is a step to unlimited power. 

Last week, researchers set up a fusion reaction that broke all records for creating energy.

The reaction only lasted 100 trillionths of a second. But it was a huge success. In that time, atoms began reacting together without more energy. 

The reaction produced 10 quadrillion watts of power. 

Many experts hope this is the next step in producing unlimited energy. So far, the only nuclear energy we create uses fission. This produces dangerous waste. Plus, it cannot create so much energy. 

Not everyone is so sure. Even though the tests broke records, they still used more energy than they created. 

Is nuclear fusion a pipe dreamSomething that will never happen - that a smoker might dream about while puffing on a pipe.?

Yes! This experiment only proves that fusion is possible. But it also shows that more work needs to be done to use it to power the whole planet. 

Maybe not! Lots of scientific breakthroughs seem impossible before they happen. There was once a time where people thought humans would never fly in planes. Now we travel in them around the world!