Technologies

Major Energy Breakthrough: Milestone Achieved in US Fusion Experiment

For the first time, the National Ignition Facility officially achieved ignition in a fusion reactor.

It was touted as a «major scientific breakthrough» and, it seems, the rumors were true: On Tuesday, scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory announced that they have, for the first time, achieved net energy gain in a controlled fusion experiment.

«We have taken the first tentative steps toward a clean energy source that could revolutionize the world,» Jill Hruby, administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, said in a press conference Tuesday.

The triumph comes courtesy of the National Ignition Facility at LLNL in San Francisco. This facility has long tried to master nuclear fusion — a process that powers the sun and other stars — in an effort to harness the massive amounts of energy released during the reaction because, as Hruby points out, all that energy is «clean» energy.

Despite decades of effort, however, there had been a major kink in these fusion experiments: the amount of energy used to achieve fusion has far outweighed the energy coming out. As part of the NIF mission, scientists had long hoped to achieve «ignition,» where the energy output is «greater than or equal to laser drive energy.»

Some experts have remained skeptical that such a feat was even possible with fusion reactors currently in operation. But slowly, NIF pushed forward. In August last year, LLNL revealed it had come close to this threshold by generating around 1.3 megajoules (a measure of energy) against a laser drive using 1.9 megajoules.

But on Dec. 5, LLNL’s scientists say, they managed to cross the threshold.

They achieved ignition.

All in all, this achievement is cause for celebration. It’s the culmination of decades of scientific research and incremental progress. It’s a critical, albeit small, step forward, to demonstrate that this type of reactor can, in fact, generate energy.

«Reaching ignition in a controlled fusion experiment is an achievement that has come after more than 60 years of global research, development, engineering and experimentation,» Hruby said.

«It’s a scientific milestone,» Arati Prabhakar, policy director for the White House Office of Science and Technology, said during the conference, «but it’s also an engineering marvel.»

Still, a fully operational platform, connected to the grid and used to power homes and businesses, likely remains a few decades away.

«This is one igniting capsule at one time,» Kim Budil, director of LLNL, said. «To realize commercial fusion energy you have to do many things. You have to be able to produce many, many fusion ignition events per minute, and you have to have a robust system of drivers to enable that.»

So how did we get here? And what does the future hold for fusion energy?

Simulating stars

The underlying physics of nuclear fusion has been well understood for almost a century.

Fusion is a reaction between the nuclei of atoms that occurs under extreme conditions, like those present in stars. The sun, for instance, is about 75% hydrogen and, because of the all-encompassing heat and pressure at its core, these hydrogen atoms are squeezed together, fusing to form helium atoms.

If atoms had feelings, it would be easy to say they don’t particularly like being squished together. It takes a lot of energy to do so. Stars are fusion powerhouses; their gravity creates the perfect conditions for a self-sustaining fusion reaction and they keep burning until all their fuel — those atoms — are used up.

This idea forms the basis of fusion reactors.

Building a unit that can artificially re-create the conditions within the sun would allow for an extremely green source of energy. Fusion doesn’t directly produce greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and methane, which contribute to global warming.

And critically, a fusion reactor also doesn’t have the downsides of nuclear fission, the splitting of atoms used in nuclear bombs and reactors today.

In other words, a fusion power plant wouldn’t produce the radioactive waste associated with nuclear fission.

The big fusion experiment

The NIF, which takes up the space of around three football fields at LLNL, is the most powerful «inertial confinement fusion» experiment in the world.

In the center of the chamber lies a target: a «hohlraum,» or cylinder-shaped device that houses a tiny capsule. The capsule, about as big as a peppercorn, is filled with isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium and tritium, or D-T fuel, for short. The NIF focuses all 192 lasers at the target, creating extreme heat that produces plasma and kicks off an implosion. As a result, the D-T fuel is subject to extreme temperatures and pressures, fusing the hydrogen isotopes into helium — and a consequence of the reaction is a ton of extra energy and the release of neutrons.

You can think of this experiment as briefly simulating the conditions of a star.

The complicated part, though, is that the reaction also requires a ton of energy to start. Powering the entire laser system used by the NIF requires more than 400 megajoules — but only a small percentage actually hits the hohlraum with each firing of the beams. Previously, the NIF had been able to pretty consistently hit the target with around 2 megajoules from its lasers.

But on Dec. 5, during one run, something changed.

«Last week, for the first time, they designed this experiment so that the fusion fuel stayed hot enough, dense enough and round enough for long enough that it ignited,» Marv Adams, deputy administrator at the NNSA, said during the conference. «And it produced more energy than the lasers had deposited.»

More specifically, scientists at NIF kickstarted a fusion reaction using about 2 megajoules of energy to power the lasers and were able to get about 3 megajoules out. Based on the definition of ignition used by NIF, the benchmark has been passed during this one short pulse.

You might also see that energy gain in a fusion reaction is denoted by a variable, Q.

Like ignition, the Q value can refer to different things for different experiments. But here, it’s referring to the energy input from the lasers versus the energy output from the capsule. If Q = 1, scientists say they have achieved «breakeven,» where energy in equals energy out.

The Q value for this run, for context, was around 1.5.

In the grand scheme of things, the energy created with this Q value is only about enough to boil water in a kettle.

«The calculation of energy gain only considers the energy that hit the target, and not the [very large] energy consumption that goes into supporting the infrastructure,» said Patrick Burr, a nuclear engineer at the University of New South Wales.

The NIF is not the only facility chasing fusion — and inertial confinement is not the only way to kickstart the process. «The more common approach is magnetically confined fusion,» said Richard Garrett, senior advisor on strategic projects at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization. These reactors use magnetic fields to control the fusion reaction in a gas, typically in a giant, hollow donut reactor known as a tokamak.

Those devices have a much lower density than NIF’s pellets, so temperatures need to be increased to well over 100 million degrees. Garrett said he does not expect the NIF result to accelerate tokamak fusion programs because, fundamentally, the two processes work quite differently.

However, significant progress is also being made with magnetically confined fusion. For instance, the ITER experiment, under construction in France, uses a tokamak and is expected to begin testing in the next decade. It has lofty goals, aiming to achieve a Q greater than 10 and to develop commercial fusion by 2050.

The future of fusion

The experiment at NIF might be transformative for research, but it won’t immediately translate to a fusion energy revolution. This isn’t a power-generating experiment. It’s a proof of concept.

This is a point worth paying attention to today, especially as fusion has often been touted as a way to combat the climate crisis and reduce reliance on fossil fuels or as a salve for the world’s energy problems. Construction and utilization of fusion energy to power homes and businesses is still a ways off — decades, conservatively — and inherently reliant on technological improvements and investment in alternative energy sources.

Generating around 2.5 megajoules of energy when the total input from the laser system is well above 400 megajoules is, of course, not efficient. And in the case of the NIF experiment, it was one short pulse.

Looking further ahead, constant, reliable, long pulses will be required if this is to become sustainable enough to power kettles, homes or entire cities.

«It’s unlikely that fusion power … will save us from climate change,» said Ken Baldwin, a physicist at the Australian National University. If we are to prevent the largest increases in global average temperature, fusion power is likely going to be a little too late.

Other investment is going to come from private companies, which are seeking to operate tokamak fusion reactors in the next few years. For instance, Tokamak Energy in the UK is building a spherical tokamak reactor and seeks to hit breakeven by the middle of this decade.

Then there’s Commonwealth Fusion Systems, spun out of MIT, which is hoping to generate around 400 megawatts of power, enough for tens of thousands of homes, by the 2030s. Modern nuclear power plants can produce almost three times as much.

And as CNET editor Stephen Shankland noted in a recent piece, fusion reactors will also need to compete against solar and wind power — so even with today’s revelatory findings, fusion energy remains entrenched in the experimental phase of its existence.

But we can now cast one eye toward the future.

It may not prevent the worst of climate change but, harnessed to its full potential, it could produce a near-limitless supply of energy for generations to come. It’s one thing to think about the future of energy on Earth and how it will be utilized, but our eyes may fall on horizons even further out — deep space travel could utilize fusion reactors that blast us well beyond the reaches of our sun’s gravity, the very thing that helped teach us about fusion reactions, and into interstellar space.

Perhaps then, we’d remember Dec. 5, 2022, as the first tiny step toward places we dared once only dream about.

Correction, 8:44 a.m. PT: This article initially misstated the amount of energy in the fusion reaction. NIF powered the lasers with about 2 megajoules and produced 3 megajoules as a result.

Technologies

My CES 2026 Secret Weapon? This New Wearable AI Note-Taking Pin From Plaud

During a week of information overload, I’m outsourcing my memory to the Plaud NotePin S.

CES is always one of the most hectic weeks of the year for CNET journalists — myself included. I’ll be jumping between booths, often speaking to multiple different companies within the span of an hour, having interesting and intense conversations about different products as I go.

Sometimes these conversations begin before I’ve even had a chance to pull my recorder from my bag, never mind switch it on. Often I end up scribbling down extra details or quotes in my notepad — a fun challenge for my memory and eyes when the time comes to sit down and write and I’m forced to decipher my own handwriting.

Not this year, though. At CES 2026, AI note-taking company Plaud is launching its new NotePin S, an AI wearable that can clip to your collar, strap onto your wrist, hang around your neck or cling to your shirt with a magnet and record your conversations as you go about your day.

Plaud sent me this updated version of the NotePin ahead of CES, so I’ll be able to test it out as I wander the show floors. Just as with the previous version of the pin and the Plaud Note Pro, which the company announced back in August, the NotePin S connects to your phone via Bluetooth, and transcriptions of your conversations will appear in the Plaud app.

I already expect the NotePin S, which is a sleek pill-shaped device that’s smaller than a USB stick, to be a game changer for me as I roam the halls of CES. In a briefing ahead of the show, Plaud said that the pin had been successfully tested out at the Dreamforce conference earlier this year, so I know the dual microphones, which have a range of around 9.8 feet, are capable of working well in a noisy convention center.

To activate the recording, all I’ll need to do is long press on the front of the pin. But the feature I’m most looking forward to testing out is the press to highlight button on the pin, which will allow me to mark key moments in conversations so they’ll be easy to find when I come to look through my transcriptions later.

I’m also glad that, thanks to the range of the wearable accessories bundled with the NotePin S, the device will work with a variety of different outfits. In such a busy environment, I might be tempted to use the lanyard to carry it around my neck, but on the days I’m wearing a jacket, the lapel clip might be more suitable. For sit-down interviews, I’m tempted to switch to wristband so that I can press to highlight with the least amount of intrusion into the conversation.

For when I’m back home, conducting interviews from the comfort of my office, Plaud has another new toy for me to play with. At CES the company also announced Plaud Desktop — an AI notetaker designed to bridge in-person and online meetings by capturing your conversations natively.

This means no intrusive meeting bots joining your call. (If you know, you know.) Instead, it will sit on your computer and detect when a meeting is taking place, record that meeting discreetly and then provide a context-rich summary within your Plaud account.

The most appealing part of this for me is the idea that all of my notes, meetings and conversations — whether captured by my wearable or my computer — will be accessible and organized in one place.

Both the NotePin S and Plaud Desktop will be available immediately, with the pin costing $179 (£159).

Technologies

Belkin’s CES 2026 Lineup Can Keep Your Phone Charged for Days (and Protect Its Screen, Too)

The accessory maker has a mix of fast-charging power banks, liquid screen protectors and even a case that charges your Nintendo Switch 2.

While CES 2026 won’t be too focused on phones, Belkin has a suite of new products to keep them charged and their displays protected. There are even a few products specifically designed for laptops and gamers.

Belkin’s main offering is a trio of power banks to recharge your devices on the go. The UltraCharge Pro Power Bank 10K, unsurprisingly, boasts a 10,000-mAh capacity. This power bank can charge two devices simultaneously, either via USB-C at 30W or wirelessly at 25W. It’ll be available in February. It’s priced at $100, which roughly converts to $75 or AU$150.

The BoostCharge Slim Magnetic Power Bank with Stand is available in two capacities: 5,000-mAh ($60) and 10,000-mAh ($85), with wired charging speeds of 20W and 30W, respectively. Both also offer 15W wireless charging and will be available in the second quarter of 2026.

Lastly among the power banks, the $150 UltraCharge Pro Laptop 27K has a 27,000-mAh capacity and can charge with up to 240W total output among its multiple ports, which can charge up to three devices at once. It also has a small display to show the remaining battery percentage. This power bank will be available in March.

The company is also adding to its lineup of Nintendo Switch 2 charging cases with a new $100 Pro model. This one has a removable 10,000-mAh power bank, which charges at 30W, and an LCD screen to show how much battery is left.

Belkin also has a pair of wireless chargers that support the Qi2 standard at 25W charging speeds. The UltraCharge Pro 2-in-1 ($100) can charge an iPhone and Apple Watch simultaneously and will be available in March. The UltraCharge Modular Charging Dock ($65) can charge up to three devices at once, via two wireless pads and one watch puck (charging at 10W). It’ll be available in the first quarter of 2026.

Belkin’s trio of screen protectors at CES

Belkin has a new line of screen protectors to safeguard the window to your digital world — and one of them is partially made of liquid.

While the Gorilla Glass used in the screens of most phones is durable, it’s still breakable, and one bad drop could turn a clear display into a spiderweb of regret. Screen protectors are cheap protective layers to reinforce surfaces and reassure phone owners. Belkin’s trio of products, debuting in Las Vegas at CES, defend against display cracks in different ways.

The first of these, the Titan LiquidGuard, uses a combination of water-based silicon oxide, graphene and what Belkin calls Nano-Titan Technology to reinforce phone displays at «the molecular level.» Retailing for $60, this protector has a $300 screen repair guarantee.

The Titan SmartShield is a conventional rigid screen protector with a surface hardness that’s rated for up to 2 meters of drop protection. The glass making up the SmartShield is made with up to 60% recycled materials, and retails for $50.

The $50 Titan EcoGuard protects phone screens with an anti-reflective coating. It’s made of 97% preconsumer recycled materials. For $60, two more premium versions of the EcoGuard offer a privacy screen to obscure your phone from onlookers and a red light protector that diminishes blue light, which can keep you up late at night. All three EcoGuard protectors use 100% recycled material in their packaging.

In addition to a standard warranty, Belkin is offering a new Wear and Tear program to replace screen protectors worn down by everyday use and accidents for free — all you’ll need to pay for is shipping ($10 in the US).

Technologies

Xreal’s Latest Glasses Get Better and Cheaper. And There’s a Switch Dock, Too

I loved playing Switch games on the Xreal 1S glasses, but getting them connected is a little awkward.

Smart glasses are in a period of rapidly accelerating change, and quick updates seem to be the norm. My favorite display glasses last year, the Xreal One, won me over because they have great displays with tons of adjustment options, including the ability to pin a display in place. The new Xreal 1S, which I saw ahead of CES 2026, does those glasses one better with more gaming-focused display updates and better resolution. But the best part is that I’m now connecting them with a Nintendo Switch 2, thanks to Xreal’s new $100 Neo mini-dock.

The $450 Xreal 1S is, in fact, better overall than the more expensive Xreal One Pro, which is still on sale. The Pro has a different and flatter lens system that keeps glare down when it’s worn. All these glasses still use «birdbath» displays that project vivid micro OLED images above your eyes down to you via half-mirrored prisms, but the Xreal 1S’s displays have a slightly larger 52-degree field of view (up from 50), 700 nits of brightness (100 more than before) and a 16:10 ratio, 1,200-pixel resolution. That’s better than the Pro’s 1080p resolution, and it’s in a ratio that fits gaming display modes better.

I’ve been trying a pair with prescription insert lenses (the 1S works with the same inserts as the Xreal One), and they look great. Xreal also updated its onboard processing tricks, adding automatic 3D media conversion via the glasses’ own chipset. The mode, which is in beta, feels pretty rough, though. Steam Deck and Switch games (or movies, or your own phone screen) can look 3D, but the autoconversion is imprecise and significantly lowers the frame rate on everything.

The 1S would be my top pick now over the Xreal One Pro, if it weren’t for the fact that I like the One Pro’s lenses better. But it’s likely that Xreal will update the Pro with the 1S’ new displays sometime soon. You might want to wait.

What I love even more than the glasses update is the Neo battery pack. It’s a new $100 mini-dock that acts as a passthrough converter to work with the Nintendo Switch. It works with existing Xreal glasses as well as the new 1S, and I’m already loving how portable it is. Unlike the Steam Deck, Windows handhelds and phones and laptops, the Switch doesn’t work natively with display glasses. But Xreal found a workaround somehow that functions fine, even with Nintendo’s lockdown firmware.

The 10,000-mAh battery pack can be used to charge anything and pass video through via USB-C. There’s a magnet on the back that snaps onto phones, and a kickstand too — but the Neo doesn’t have contactless charging. You have to connect using a built-in USB-C cable.

This isn’t my first time playing Switch games using display glasses and a dock. Last year, I tried Viture’s similar 10,000-mAh dock, which is compatible with the Switch and Switch 2. Neither company’s dock works with the other’s glasses for Switch gaming, though, which is a bummer. Viture’s battery dock allows two glasses to connect at once, but it’s almost twice the size. I like that the Neo is about as small as any other battery pack I typically take with me.

If only these docks weren’t awkward to connect, though. Xreal does its best, but the Switch 2 only supports video-out through its bottom USB-C port, not the top one. The Neo comes with a magnetic sticker you can put on the back of the Switch, allowing you to snap it onto the Neo in kickstand mode. This allows it to hover in the air slightly, so you can plug in the cable underneath. But the Switch in docked mode only works with Joy-Con controllers detached, so you’ll have to rest the whole Switch setup next to you.

I love the experience once it’s all set up, but using the dock is likely a step too far for most people — even if they like the idea of gaming with glasses on a Switch 2. But I’ll tell you it feels like playing in a little home theater, and games I’ve tried look great in micro OLED. Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza and Kirby Air Riders play fantastically. The only one that has had performance issues so far is Metroid Prime 4, which slows down and becomes unplayable using the Neo dock. Also odd: The Switch 2 kept asking me if I wanted to update the dock’s firmware, which wouldn’t work anyway. (I said no.) Clearly, the Switch 2 doesn’t exactly form a perfect handshake here.

But I seriously hope Nintendo works in glasses support on the next Switch 2, because Xreal and Viture have already shown me that it can be fun… if you feel motivated to buy display glasses and a dock that cost more than the Switch 2 itself.