For 50 years, Nuclear Fusion was always '20 years away'. But the breakthrough at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory changed everything. For the first time, humans created a fusion reaction producing more energy than consumed (Net Energy Gain).
Plasma Physics
Unlike Fission (splitting atoms) which creates radioactive waste, Fusion (merging hydrogen atoms) mimics the Sun. The challenge is containing plasma at 100 million degrees Celsius.
Future Impact
If commercialized, the global energy crisis ends. Seawater becomes fuel. Zero carbon emissions. This is the absolute step towards a Type 1 Civilization (Kardashev Scale).