fusion physics

Fermilab is reporting progress on MAGNES, an initiative aimed at advancing physics and fusion energy research. The announcement highlights the laboratory's growing role in fusion science, a field attracting increased attention as governments and companies pursue clean energy breakthroughs. Details of the specific technical advances remain limited in the initial report.

Physicists using muon tomography have identified a void of at least 30 metres inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza, without any drilling. Muons from cosmic-ray showers pass through stone and are absorbed unevenly, so a shortfall of muons arriving from one direction revealed extra empty space within the 4,500-year-old monument. The non-invasive technique, developed by the ScanPyramids collaboration, is being discussed as a striking example of particle physics unlocking archaeological secrets.

An artist has shared a surreal, red-toned artwork inspired by the Super-Kamiokande neutrino observatory in Japan, blending imagery of the physics detector with retro Unix computing aesthetics. The piece is drawing attention among art and science enthusiasts online, who appreciate the unusual fusion of particle physics and technology culture.

Manfred Horstmann, a GlobalFoundries executive, says the chipmaker is placing a strategic bet on its FDX Fusion technology to serve the emerging market for physical AI — chips embedded in robots, vehicles and other real-world systems. The move positions the specialty semiconductor manufacturer to compete in edge and embedded intelligence applications where power efficiency and integrated processing are key requirements.

Physicists Johann Rafelski and A.J. Steinmetz have published a new paper, 'Science of Nuclear Fusion: Insights and Ideas', in the journal Particles. The authors announce that all figures and data are openly available via arXiv and GitHub, reflecting a push for transparency in fusion research. The open release of underlying data is drawing attention from the nuclear physics community.

A Willamette University student has built a robotic hand that combines computer vision with physical hardware, allowing the device to interpret what it sees and act on it mechanically. The project highlights growing student interest in robotics and applied artificial intelligence on campus, and shows how classroom skills in software can be paired with hands-on engineering to create working prototypes.

OpenStar Technologies and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory are forming a partnership to advance fusion energy development. The collaboration aims to combine the startup's approach to fusion with the laboratory's research expertise, supporting efforts to make fusion a viable clean energy source. Details of specific projects or funding under the partnership have not yet been announced.

Researchers at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) in South Korea report a new method for measuring neutrons produced by laser-driven fusion reactions that does not rely on counting individual neutron events. The approach could make diagnostics for fusion experiments faster and more practical. Details of the technique and its accuracy have not been widely reported yet.

A researcher has found exact solutions to a longstanding problem in fusion physics with the help of artificial intelligence. The reported breakthrough suggests AI tools can contribute to fundamental theoretical work in plasma science, an area central to developing fusion energy. Details about the researcher, the specific problem, and the methods involved remain limited.