Nuclear Fusion Net Energy Gain

Nuclear fusion achieved a critical milestone in 2024 as the National Ignition Facility recorded its third consecutive ignition, yielding a net energy gain of 1.5x in a peer-reviewed study published last December. This outpaces #5's previous record by 20%, demonstrating consistent progress toward limitless clean energy. Commonwealth Fusion Systems broke ground on the SPARC tokamak, aiming for commercial fusion power by 2035, while Microsoft inked the world's first fusion power purchase agreement with Helion Energy. These advances, backed by $1.2 billion in private funding, signal a shift from experimental to commercial viability.