Fusion Energy Medicine – Can it Be Replicated on Earth?
Fusion, the merger of light atomic nuclei to produce energy, powers our sun and other stars. Its potential as a clean energy source offers an alternative to fossil fuels and long-lived nuclear waste.
Fusion technology is being used by companies like Shine Technologies to create Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), the parent isotope of the most widely used diagnostic tool in nuclear medicine. This technology will help address a critical shortage in medical imaging.
What is Fusion Energy Medicine?
Fusion is what powers the Sun and other stars, and scientists think that if it can be replicated on Earth, it could provide clean, abundant, and reliable energy. It would also not produce any long-lived radioactive waste.
Fusion has been a dream of scientists for over 70 years, and it’s finally starting to become a reality. In late 2022, scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory announced that they had achieved fusion ignition, meaning they had produced more energy from the fusion reaction than they put into it. This is a significant step towards creating commercial nuclear fusion reactors that could generate electricity.
In fusion experiments, hydrogen isotopes such as deuterium and tritium are fused together under high temperatures and pressures to create helium and a burst of energy. Scientists have been working on this process for decades, and they use a variety of magnetic, electrical, and other methods to create the conditions necessary for fusion. They currently focus on a specific type of fusion, called deuterium-tritium (or “DT”) fusion. This involves fusing two isotopes of hydrogen, each with one more neutron than normal, to create helium and release a large amount of energy.
One of the biggest challenges is overcoming the Coulomb force, which describes how like charges repel each other and opposite charges attract (think north and south poles on a magnet). To overcome this repulsion, researchers use a high-energy electromagnetic field to levitate plasma, which is made up of positively-charged ions, or atoms. Then they use a laser to heat these atoms up so they can collide with each other and fuse.
Fusion energy is also being used to develop medical treatments, with Shine Technologies, a company in Janesville, Wisconsin, using fusion to produce molybdenum-99, the parent isotope of the most commonly used diagnostic tool in nuclear medicine. The company has received a Radiations to Watts contract, which is funded by the Department of Defense’s innovation arm, AFWERX, to rapidly develop advanced materials for use in extreme environments.
Avalanche Fusion is another firm developing a modular fusion reactor, called the Orbitron, that will be the size of an office desk. It has been awarded a Rads to Watts contract as well as a $1.25 million contract from the Air Force’s AFWERX to develop new materials for fusion environments.
What are the Benefits of Fusion Energy Medicine?
Fusion energy is an alternative to traditional nuclear fission, which produces power by combining atoms (like uranium and plutonium), creating carbon-free energy. This process is what powers the Sun and many stars.
To achieve fusion, researchers create conditions in a reactor that allow electrons to free themselves from the nuclei of atoms. Then, electric and magnetic fields help gather the positively charged ions and negatively charged electrons into a plasma, where they can overcome repulsive electrostatic forces and fuse together. This releases a burst of energy.
UT researchers are working to develop and improve computer simulations of the plasma environment at the heart of a fusion reaction, so that one day, scientists can use these models to design the ideal power plant. They are also integrating machine learning into their work to better sift through massive datasets.
The goal of fusion research is to ultimately build and operate a pilot plant – a device that will demonstrate that fusion can produce the vast amounts of energy needed for a sustainable global economy. But this will require substantial investment and a dedicated workforce.
A fusion reactor could provide carbon-free energy for power generation, water desalination and industrial processes. It could also help support exploration in outer space and enable longer, more efficient missions.
In addition to bringing clean energy to the world, research into fusion technology is transforming medicine. The American company SHINE Technologies, for example, is using its fusion system to create the medical isotope Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), used in many diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures. The company is the first in the United States to deploy a novel American-made fusion system for the production of this lifesaving isotope.
Fusion energy has the potential to transform our daily lives, spark innovation and job creation, and ensure a safe and secure energy supply for all. In fact, a recent report by U.S. fusion scientists calls for the construction of a fusion pilot plant in the 2040s, if enough funding and commitment is provided. The fusion community is also supporting the International Thermonuclear Fusion Project (ITER), which will be the largest fusion experiment ever constructed.
What are the Side Effects of Fusion Energy Medicine?
Fusion powers the sun and other stars, and scientists have been pursuing it as a source of clean terrestrial energy for about 70 years. But reproducing and sustaining the conditions that make fusion possible has proven a difficult challenge, and it will likely take decades before fusion can be commercially viable.
The fusion process relies on high temperatures and pressures to combine two hydrogen isotopes, deuterium and tritium, into a helium nucleus and neutrons. This reaction releases a large amount of electricity without producing carbon dioxide or other pollutants, and it is the type of fusion that Clemson researchers are working to bring to fruition.
To do this, they are using a facility called the National Ignition Facility (NIF), which can create these high temperatures and pressures. They are also working on the international Fusion for Energy and Research in Plasma (ITER), which is being built in southern France and will be the largest fusion experiment in the world.
Fusion Energy contains herbs like Korean ginseng and reishi, which are traditionally used to promote energy and relieve fatigue in Chinese medicine. It also includes other powerful adaptogenic herbs like astragalus, cordyceps and ashwagandha to help you stay focused and resilient.
How Can Fusion Energy Medicine Help You?
Fusion powers the sun and other stars, filling the universe with heat and light. It’s also a potential source of clean energy on Earth, producing zero greenhouse gases and no waste. But reproducing and sustaining the conditions needed for fusion has been challenging for researchers.
Fortunately, some of the key ingredients are relatively common. Deuterium and tritium, two light hydrogen atoms that can be ‘bred’ from water, make up the fuel for fusion experiments. Lithium, an element with a natural abundance that allows for easy mining, is another important ingredient. In addition to facilitating fusion, these materials are also used in medical imaging tools like CT scans and nuclear medicine.
Fusion is a hot field in research, with many laboratories pursuing the technology. In the United States, several universities, companies and federal labs have taken on the task. SHINE Technologies, based in Janesville, Wisconsin, for instance, is using novel American-made fusion systems to solve a national shortage of an essential diagnostic tool for heart disease and cancer. Its technology creates Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), the parent isotope of Technetium-99m, which is widely used in medical imaging.
In addition, the US Department of Energy’s National Energy Laboratory has a fleet of magnetic confinement devices for research on materials and plasmas. These facilities produce large quantities of neutrons, which are valuable in helping scientists understand the structure and composition of complex materials. The UK government has even launched a strategy designed to attract private investment in fusion power. It includes setting up a market framework to encourage commercial fusion power plants.
While the technology for fusion is still under development, researchers have made significant progress. In late 2022, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s National Ignition Facility reported it had achieved ignition, meaning it produced more energy from fusion than it consumed. The feat was a huge milestone for the field and raised hopes that fusion could one day provide a sustainable energy source for humans.
At Clemson University, researchers are continuing to work on the technology. A team led by faculty member Chad Sosolik is examining the behavior of tungsten and other materials at the high energies involved in fusion reactors. He is also part of the team building ITER in France, the world’s largest tokamak. 35 nations are contributing to the project, which is intended to prove fusion can be a viable source of carbon-free power.


