Atoms to the rescue?

AS THE world's fossil fuel reserves
decline, the search for a clean, inexpensive and sustainable source of energy
hots up. At a site near Abingdon, a us
$794 million experiment to develop a
new and virtually non-polluting energy
source has entered the final phase of its
programme. The experiment, known as
jet (joint European Torus) is part of a
multinational research programme to
develop nuclear fusion as a reasonably
priced energy source for the future.

In the jet experiment, fusion of
atoms occurs in very high temperatures
inside a specially designed vacuum
chamber known as "torus". Tom
Elsworth, Jet spokesperson, described
the process as inherently safe due to its
slow reaction rate. It would also generate less nuclear waste because of the low
radioactivity of basic materials.