Startup Moves Closer to Fusion Energy With New Reactor Test in Japan

Mar 06, 2025 | News On Japan

GIFU, Mar 06, 2025 (News On Japan) - A key experiment aimed at realizing the long-sought dream of fusion energy is set to begin at the National Institute for Fusion Science in Toki, Gifu Prefecture.

On March 3rd, a piece of equipment known as a 'blanket'—measuring approximately two meters in height and four meters in width—was delivered to the institute.

Developed by Helical Fusion, a startup working toward the commercialization of fusion reactors, the blanket is designed to extract large amounts of energy from deuterium, a hydrogen isotope abundant in seawater.

The blanket plays a crucial role in converting neutrons generated in the fusion reaction into heat. By circulating high-temperature liquid metal inside the device, the company aims to enhance its durability.

Helical Fusion has been conducting joint research with the National Institute for Fusion Science since 2024 and aims to develop a demonstration reactor capable of actual power generation by 2034.

Source: 東海テレビ NEWS ONE

Typhoon No. 25 Threatens Heavy Rain in Early Silver Week Holiday

Typhoon No. 25 was moving westward over waters south of the Ogasawara Islands as of noon on September 18 and is expected to bring heavy rain and stormy weather to the islands, Kanto, the Izu Islands and eastern Shizuoka Prefecture during the first half of Japan's five-day Silver Week holiday, before conditions improve across much of the country later in the break.

Bear Sighting Raises Alarm at Popular Tokyo Hiking Spot

A black bear has been spotted near one of the most popular hiking trails on Mount Takao in western Tokyo, prompting authorities to urge visitors to take precautions ahead of the five-day Silver Week holiday and the approaching autumn foliage season.

Starbucks Considers Selling Majority Stake in Japan Business

Starbucks is considering selling a majority stake in its Japanese business, potentially valued at as much as $3 billion, or about 470 billion yen, as the U.S. coffee chain seeks to concentrate management resources on its struggling North American operations.

Halloween Jumbo Lottery Goes on Sale With 400 Million Yen Top Prize

Japan's Halloween Jumbo Lottery went on sale nationwide on September 16, offering a combined top payout of 400 million yen for the first prize and its adjacent-number prizes.

Shinkansen Introduces New Luxury Private Compartment

A new top-tier "Supreme Class" offering fully private compartments above the level of Green Car service will debut on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen on October 1, with passengers able to experience the new seating at a demonstration booth at Shin-Osaka Station.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sci-Tech NEWS

Rare Pod of About 50 Dolphins Spotted in Seto Inland Sea

A rare pod of around 50 dolphins was spotted swimming through the Seto Inland Sea off Ozu, Ehime Prefecture, with dozens of dorsal fins repeatedly breaking the surface as the animals moved together.

Cybercab Arrives in Japan

Tesla unveiled its Cybercab in Japan for the first time on September 11, showcasing an AI-powered autonomous taxi designed without a steering wheel or pedals.

Footage Shows Tokyo Flood Control Tunnel After Heavy Rain

Large volumes of floodwater poured into the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel in Kasukabe, Saitama Prefecture, following heavy rain on September 7, prompting the massive underground flood-control facility known as the "Underground Temple" to go into operation.

Lights Out for Fluorescent Lamps

Fluorescent lamps that have illuminated Japanese homes and workplaces for decades are approaching the end of production, with Panasonic preparing to wind down a business it has operated since 1951 while experts warn that incorrectly replacing some fixtures with LEDs could create a fire risk.

Dry Fog Finds New Uses in Industry, Farming and Tourism

Osaka-based spray nozzle maker IKEUCHI is expanding applications for its proprietary "Dry Fog," an ultra-fine mist that can cool, humidify and create visual effects without leaving surfaces wet, with the technology now being used in factories, livestock farming, crop cultivation and tourist attractions in Japan and overseas.

Japan Moves to Commercializing Low-Power Optical Computing

Japanese companies are moving closer to commercializing photonics-electronics convergence technology that replaces part of conventional electrical data transmission with optical signals, potentially allowing huge volumes of data to move with lower latency while sharply reducing power consumption as artificial intelligence drives rapid growth in electricity demand from data centers.

Just 27 Centimeters Could Dramatically Reduce Power Consumption

A new generation of optoelectronic integration technology developed over four decades by Japanese companies is moving closer to commercialization, offering a way to transmit huge volumes of data with low latency while sharply reducing the electricity consumed by data centers as artificial intelligence drives explosive growth in computing demand.

CameraJet Connects Cleaning Coaching and Privacy

Dyson CameraJet™ turns the smart toothbrush into an active sensing product, making useful feedback and clear privacy design part of the same engineering brief.

< 2 3 4 5 >