reduce the production of laser weapons and parts for electric cars to one second

A team of researchers from China has achieved a technological leap that could alter the energy base of sectors as diverse as electric vehicles, advanced radars or even new generation defense systems. At a time when speed, thermal stability and on-chip integration have become strategic priorities for industry and militaries alike, China claims to have found an unexpectedly fast path to producing one of the most critical components in modern electronics. An industrial leap. China has presented an advance that fundamentally disrupts the production of dielectric storage capacitors, a critical component for hybrid electric vehicles, radar systems, advanced electronics and, especially, directed energy weapons. Two teams from the Metal Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have achieved reduce the manufacturing process of these devices just one second thanks to a technique flash annealing capable of heating and cooling materials at 1,000 ºC per second, forming crystalline films on silicon wafers in a single step. In other words, what previously required between three minutes and an hour now happens literally in the blink of an eye, without loss of energy density or thermal stability, and maintaining stable performance. up to 250 ºCa range that covers, for example, from the inside of a hybrid vehicle to the depths of oil exploration. The advance also offers a scalable industrial path towards on-chip storage devices, a goal long pursued by the electronics industry. A new class of capacitors. Dielectric capacitors stand out because they can charge and discharge energy with extreme suddenness, generating current peaks essential for systems that depend on instantaneous reactions. The new crystalline films created by the Chinese team not only achieve energy densities comparable to those of much slower methods, but they maintain less than 3% degradation even at 250 ºC. This guarantees its operation in severe conditions, from automotive electronics subjected to constant heat to sensors and energy exploitation equipment underground. Researchers say in your work that the rapid solidification obtained by heating by electromagnetic induction and immediately cooling in liquid nitrogen fixes the crystalline structure in a high energy state that multiplies the capacity storage, reaching 63.5 J/cm³, values ​​higher than traditional techniques such as firing in a muffle furnace or rapid thermal tempering. This combination of extreme speed, stability and density opens the door to design leaps in multiple industrial sectors. Strategic implications. As we said, the most delicate, and potentially transformative, impact is found in the military terrain: Emerging technology offers a direct solution to one of the bottlenecks of directed energy weapons, such as high-powered lasers, which require fast, stable flows of electricity to maintain sustained fire, repeated pulses, and minimal reload times. The ability to generate intense electrical pulses from denser, more heat-resistant, mass-produced capacitors with faster times drastically reduced makes this technology a key enabler for ship-borne lasers, anti-drone systems, energy saturation weapons or ground-based air defense platforms. In a scenario where thermal autonomy, stress resistance and the ability to withstand repeated thermal cycles are essential, these new dielectric films offer a decisive advantage compared to previous generations of materials. Although they still depend on improvements to close the gap with lithium batteries in total capacity, their superiority in instantaneous power is exactly what modern laser systems require. World projection. The promise of producing advanced capacitors in a second It represents a disruptive change for industries that, until now, assumed long and expensive processes to achieve similar levels of quality. The ability to extend the procedure to other ferroelectric materials and to apply the method on wafer-scale pellets makes this development in a milestone with direct implications for defense microelectronics, aeronautics and the energy sector. China thus obtains a path towards strategic components that are difficult to replicate in the short term in other countries, consolidating an industrial advantage in dual technologies whose relevance will only grow in the coming decades. For the directed energy weapons (considered the next big leap in anti-missile defense, anti-drone and anti-hypersonic platforms) this evolution in capacitors could be equivalent to missing link– Fast, robust, compact and, for the first time, truly scalable storage. Image | CCTV (via X) In Xataka | It is called Crazy Li and it is capable of cutting metal or causing blindness: China has developed an unprecedented combat laser In Xataka | China has made a science fiction dream come true: an electromagnetic cannon capable of reaching 3,000 shots per minute

laser drones patrol

For years, Japanese poultry farms have trusted networks, periodic cleanings and access controls to keep the Aviar flu. But in the Japanese Prefecture of Chiba, national leader in egg production, authorities and NTT group They are about to add a different ally: drones equipped with beams. From mid -October, these devices will be used to scare away wild birds that could carry the virus, in an initial deployment that seeks to add a technological layer to traditional prevention measures. The new deployment comes after one of the toughest seasons remembered the sector. Between January and February 2025, Chiba’s Prefecture He had to sacrifice more than 3.3 million birds Because of the aviar flu, in a year in which 51 outbreaks were recorded in 14 prefectures throughout the country. Networks, disinfection and access controls had contained the infections for years, but it has been shown that the virus can be leaked by multiple routes, from migratory birds to small animals or even staff clothes. A novel system. The project is promoted by NTTthe Japanese telecommunications and technology giant, through its NTT E-Drone Technology subsidiary. This company, dedicated to aerial robotics and automation, collaborates with the Government of the Prefecture of Chiba and with NTT EAST in a joint plan to reinforce biosafety in the poultry sector. The initiative combines the experience of the group in connectivity and remote control with the needs of the Japanese field, especially beaten by the last avian flu sprouts. The chosen drone, called BB102it has incorporated the Kuruna Move device, developed by the Chiiki Soken Japanese association, a unit that emits red and green beams to keep wild birds away. Its effectiveness is based on an instinctive reaction: birds interpret those lights in motion as a threat. In addition, the system generates a random light pattern with flickering effect (Speckle) to prevent animals from getting used. How it unfolds. In the deployment planned in Chiba, BB102 drones will be used to patrol the critical areas of the farmssuch as roofs, patios or tanks of feed. The operator defines the flight perimeter on the transmitter screen and the drone executes the route autonomously, maintaining the necessary altitude to cover the entire enclosure. Its autonomy of about 25 minutes per flight allows periodic missions to be programmed, adapting to the schedules with the greatest presence of wild birds. Air use provides a clear advantage over fixed systems: drone can reach high points or recesses where traditional barriers are not effective. In addition, being a mobile and programmable device, you can modify your route as the bird’s flight patterns or the ground configuration change. The whole process is controlled from land, without direct intervention on animals and without generating noise or using chemicals. What do we know that works. The use of lasers as a deterrent element does not start from zero. Before the deployment in Chiba, the Kuruna Move device was tested in the Kanagawa prefecture, where it managed to keep the crows away from several farms. The technicians verified that the birds immediately reacted to the red and green flashes and that the effect was maintained over the days thanks to the random movement of the light. Technology proved to be effective without generating noise or using chemicals. The system seeks to reduce the risk, not eliminate it. The field evaluation in Chiba will allow measuring its performance in real production environments, with different species and climatic conditions. If the results are confirmed, the combination of drones and lasers could be integrated as another layer within the usual biosafety strategies, together with the networks, disinfection and access control. Costs and aid. Implementing this technology requires significant investment in equipment, maintenance and training. To facilitate its adoption, the Chiba government activated in July a specific subsidies program with a endowment of 20 million yen, about 125,000 euros, destined to cover up to 33% of the system’s introduction cost. Aids are designed for groups of producers or cooperatives, which can share the equipment and reduce operating expenses. The economic approach starts from a preventive logic: invest before to avoid major damage later. Each episode of avian flu is very high economic losses and the destruction of hundreds of thousands of birds, so that investment in drones and lasers is interpreted as a long -term savings measure. In addition, automation reduces the need for personnel for deterrence and improves the efficiency of daily surveillance. Model for other regions. Those responsible for the project have indicated that they will study their adaptation to different environments. Among the possible applications are other agricultural areas and, where appropriate, sensitive spaces where the presence of birds represents a risk. Images | Xataka with Gemini 2.5 | NTT Group In Xataka | The Vatican drone show was an commission to an unsuspected businessman: Elon Musk’s brother

China has attacked a German plane with a laser weapon

The Red Sea is has become In one of the more volatile foci of the current geopolitical map, marked by constant attacks From the hutis to commercial ships in retaliation for the war in Gaza, the growing militarization of strategic routes and a complex SInterests between powers such as Iran, the United States, China and the European Union. And in the midst of this scenario more and more tense, maritime security missions can face challenges that go beyond conventional attacks. The last one has been as unclassifiable as extremely dangerous. Laser climbing. On July 2, 2025, a German surveillance plane was attacked with a laser For a frigate from the Navy of the Popular Army of Liberation (Plan) while participating in a routine mission off the Coast of Yemen. The aircraft, a Beechcraft King Air 350 operated by civil contractors from Yibuti and with German military personnel on board, he was fulfilling support functions within the ASPIDES OPERATION of the European Union, destined to Protect navigation In the Red Sea in front of Hutis attacks. According to them German authoritiesthe Chinese ship had already been previously sighted In the area, but this time he launched the beam without prior notice, forcing the mission to abort and return based. The Berlin government has responded firmlyconvening the Chinese ambassador to express their protest and qualifying the act of “totally unacceptable” to endanger the staff and hinder international operations. Repeated pattern The incident It is not an isolated fact. Since 2018, the Chinese Navy has been accused in several occasions to use laser weapons against military aircraft from the United States, Australia and the Philippines in different scenarios Strategic, from Yibuti to the South China Sea. In all cases, light beams, although without immediate destructive impact, were used with intentions of harassment, disorientation or intimidation, and some caused mild eye damage and disruption of optical sensors. The situation evokes especially A 2018 case In which two American pilots suffered injuries for a Chinese military laser while operating from the base in Yibuti, the same area from which the German plane attacked took off. The code for unexpected meetings in the sea (Cues), signed by China, Explicitly prohibits These practices for their risk of physical damage and military escalation, but its breach has become an unofficial tactics of the plan in scenarios where geopolitical friction is high. Laser boom and naval proliferation. The use of laser technology on board wars It is not exclusive From China, but its systematic and aggressive deployment is an alert signal. The proliferation of these systems, which vary from simple dazzling manuals up to Laser cannons capable of disabled sensors, drones and Antibheque missilesis part of a growing trend in contemporary marine. China has incorporated These devices to various types of vessels, including amphibious ships of type 071 classin parallel to the development of similar systems by the American Navy and other powers. What distinguishes the plan is your willingness to use them in peace time for the purpose of harassment, with tensions that touch the threshold of the conflict without formally crossing it. The possibility that these incidents are repeated or climb especially to European countries whose naval presence in distant waters has increased in response to new global threats. Geostrategy in the Red Sea. The growing Chinese influence in the Red Sea adds a disturbing nuance to the incident. Since 2008, the plan maintains a continuous naval presence in The Gulf of Adénbacked by your Permanent base in Yibuti. Recently, Beijing has reached An understanding With the hutis to guarantee the safe step of Chinese commercial ships through the Red Sea, while other international actors face systematic attacks. This ambiguous position allows China to present as a stability guarantor in the region, while hindering with unstalled hostility Maritime security missions led by the West, such as ASPIDES OPERATION. The incident with the German plane can be read, in that sense, as a form of indirect pressure to discourage the European military presence in waters now considered vital for Beijing’s strategic interests. Silent expansion. Beyond the Red Sea, the European fear of Chinese expansion is not limited to the naval field. Continent authorities have expressed their growing concern for Beijing’s influence on critical infrastructure, transport routes and geostrategic areas such as The Baltic either Arctic. In that context, the German response (formally convene the Chinese ambassador) represents a diplomatic gesture unusual For Berlin, more traditionally prone to equilibrium than to direct confrontation. However, in the face of a potential aggression against European military personnel and a repeated pattern of Chinese naval harassment, the measure acquires a symbolic value: it indicates that European patience against the erosion of fundamental international standards It has a limit. Diffuse red line. Although It has not been confirmed If the laser used in the attack was of high power or material damage has been detailed, the very involvement of a Chinese military system against a European aircraft in official mission feels a preceding worrying. As the Red Sea becomes an increasingly complex scenario (with Iran, the Hutis, the United States, Europe and now China playing parallel and contradictory roles), the use of silent weapons, Like the lasersis emerging as the perfect tool to inflict deterrence without firing a bullet. If you want also, each of these Pulses Invisible tense a little more the thread of regional stability and threatens to turn the Red Sea into a new gray area of ​​military competence. Image | Pla, China Military Online In Xataka | The “trick” of modern wars: how US ships repelled drones in the Red Sea without shooting a single shot In Xataka | China has ordered its ships to turn around in Ormuz: what reveals the silent withdrawal of its oil tankers

A technology 20 years ago took Ukraine to the Russian bombers. Moscow’s response comes from China: a laser cannon

With the passing of the days, more data about The covert operation which carried out Ukraine in the heart of the air bases of Moscow. Recall: a swarm of more than 100 drones hidden in trucks managed to destroy an important part of the Russian fleet of Strategic bombers. Now the technology that made Spiderweb, and what is Russia’s response to contain Ukrainian drones: a laser weapon … from China has been revealed. Cheap drones and free software. As I counted The medium 404behind the flight of the army of drones was not a sophisticated and secret technology. On the contrary, the devices were driven By Ardupilotopen source software created two decades ago by unmanned aviation enthusiasts. The use of this software, a free system originally designed for civil tasks such as agriculture, rescue or mapping, allowed Ukraine to coordinate that swarm of drones with autonomous navigation functions, air stabilization, waiting modes and contingencies for signal loss, even in a hostile environment saturated with interference and without GPS. Born of leisure … for war. Ardupilot He was born in 2007 of the personal project From Chris Andersonformer editor of the Wired media, who with Lego and Arduino pieces He built a drone browsing system that would later evolve in an open overall source community. What began as a homemade and collaborative experiment ended up being the operational core of a great impact military offensive. As He counted the mediumthe astonishment of its creators in the face of the war use of its software was notable: they never imagined that a tool designed for civil use would end up helping to destroy Russian strategic fighters. Although The website De Ardupilot promotes its use “for the peaceful benefit of all”, its open character makes it impossible to restrict. Irony resides that, while large corporations develop closed and expensive armamentUkraine has managed to use free access tools to execute attacks that remodeled the balance of power. Internet. What happened also leaves another teaching. The technological war between Ukraine and Russia is also a Communities Warforums and repositories. The software that allowed the attack developed collectively over years by programmers and fans distributed worldwide, many of which never imagined that their work would be used in combat. Neither Ardupilot nor its creators can prevent it, and although its code of conduct explicitly facilitates militarization, there is no restrictive license: knowledge is already in the hands of Who wants to use it. In the context of the current conflict, this means a silent revolution: it is not only the armies that free wars, but also free software developers. Ardupilot The Made in China answer. Before the gigantic industry Of low -cost drones that is hitting its troops, Russia has revealed an unprecedented development: a Chinese laser system To tear down drones, they report several Telegram proruse channels. Although it has not yet been officially confirmed, Images and videos disseminated They show a military vehicle shooting a laser beam capable of drilling metal plates and setting fire to drones in full flight. The appearance of the system coincides with the characteristics of the SHEN NUNG 3000 OR THE 5000 MODELan anti -gluvated weapon presented by China and that would also have been delivered to Iran. Analysts of the International Institute for Strategic Studies They point out thatalthough with some modifications, the system used by Russian forces has been derived directly of Chinese design. In fact, Russian military have confirmed that it is already In the hands of units as The Spetsnaz of the nomadic unit, and have even celebrated its effectiveness as an advance against previous technologies considered ineffective or excessively expensive. SHEN NUNG China, Iran and Russia. The entrance of this technology expands the analysis. The growing cooperation Technological between Beijing, Moscow and Tehran is reflected in the circulation of systems Like Shen Nungdeveloped by the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics. Although its operational use is still limited and its real abilities have not been tested in high -intensity scenarios, its mere presence on the battlefield indicates a qualitative change: the powers that seek to challenge the western order are sharing advanced capabilities, many of them before reserved for a handful of countries. Plus: The appearance of this system in Russian territory coincides with recent information that indicates that they will also go I would be using itconfirming that it is available in the market and has already been exported. From Ukraine to the Middle East. The use of laser weapons is not exclusive to the Moscow-Pekín-Teherán axis, of course. Israel has also recently deployed Your Iron Beam system (known as Magen or in Hebrew) to intercept Hezbollah dronesa weapon that combines response speed, precision and low cost per shot. The Israeli system, developed by Rafael and the Air Force, is still in the final test phase, but has already been used in combat. United States, meanwhile, has deployed experimental units of laser weapons in advanced positions and ships, although the advances have been slower than expected due to technical challenges such as the sensitivity of the components, thermal limits and reduced efficacy in adverse environmental conditions. Promise and fragility. Be that as it may, and although these weapons represent a significant advance in the anti -aircraft defense, They are still vulnerable: They have a limited scope, their performance depends on the weather, and require specialized maintenance. Even so, in an environment where drone swarms are increasingly frequent and difficult to intercept with traditional systems, lasers offer a solution attractive. Their low cost per shoot and their ability to operate without physical ammunition make them an emerging alternative, especially for countries that seek to overcome technological asymmetries. Between codes and science fiction. The irruption of a Chinese laser system In the Russian-Ukrainian Front marks a turning point in the use of directed energy weapons and in the global geostrategic dynamics. What until recently seemed a matter of fantastic literature is now a real instrument of combat and deterrence. In parallel, Ukraine has been able … Read more

Only five people in the world have seen this new color. The trick: laser in the retina

It is estimated that the human being is able to see around ten million different colors, According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. This is what we know as a visible spectrum, that is, those wavelengths to which Our eyes respond. Although there are exceptions, we all see more or less the same, but since last Friday there are five people in the world capable of seeing a color that the rest of mortals cannot see. The key: very precise laser surgery to stimulate concrete retin cells. Context: How do we see? As we said before, our eyes see the visible spectrum, that is, the wavelengths between 380 and 750 nanometers. Below the 380 we have ultraviolet light and above 750 infrared. This is possible thanks to some cells located in our retinas called cones, photoreceptors that react to concrete wavelengths and send signals to our brain, which is responsible for processing everything: Cones S: short wavelengths, that is, the blue. Cones M: Medium wavelengths, that is, the greens. Cones l: long wavelengths, that is, the red ones. S, M, L and all together. The cones do not react only to a concrete and exact wavelength, but their ranges overlap. The M cones will react to the longest blue wavelengths, as well as the S s will react to the shortest green zone lengths. According to Ren NG, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computing Sciences of the University of California, “there is no light in the world capable of activating only Mons M. If they are activated, be sure that one or two more types will be activated too.” The experiment. In the above is the key to the experience whose results were published last Friday in the Science Advance Magazine. What if we manage to stimulate concrete cones alone and exclusively? That was what the researchers from the University of California did: map the retina, look for cones m and excite them with small doses of light, laser. It is a technique baptized as Oz, in honor of ‘The Oz Wizard‘And the Emerald city. This is the closest representation to the “Olo” color that can be made on a screen | Image: Xataka OLO. After undergoing the experiment, the study participants were able to see a new color they called “Olo.” Of the five participants, three of them were co-authors of the study (the aforementioned Ren NG was among them) and two were colleagues from the University of Washington. This “Olo” is defined as “a bluish green with unprecedented saturation.” According to NG, the closest way to represent “Olo” on a screen is with the Hexadecimal #00FFCC, but with saturation that we cannot understand why, literally, our brain has never received that signal. The closest way to represent “OLO” on a screen is with the Hexadecimal #00FFCC How to verify it? To verify that all participants saw an alien and hidden color to the rest of mortals, made chromatic correspondence experiments comparing “Olo” with a bluish green laser that saturated or unraveled by adding white light. Everyone agreed that adding white light to “Olo”, Ergo unleashing it, the color of the laser was achieved, thus confirming that “Olo” is outside the visible spectrum of the human eye. And for what? It is an excellent question. The reality is that, for the moment, it does not have a practical utility beyond demonstrating that the procedure works. In Scientific American They collect the testimony of the principal researcher and his team, which imagines some screens capable of scanning retinas and broadcasting images and videos in impossible colors. However, it may make more sense in other lands. For example, allow the blind people to see certain colors or “simulate”, in quotes, how you see an animal in our own eyes. The problem, of course, is that the Oz effect is temporary, not permanent. Cover image | Amanda Dalbjörn In Xataka | All the colors you see on the web are wrong. And your browser has the fault

More and more young in Spain turn to laser machines to erase tattoos

There are situations that are no longer forever, even if you record them with ink. Although a third of the young Spaniards carries at least one tattooa trend in social networks It is showing that it is increasingly common to erase what one day was permanent. The “forever.” That is one of the most common phrases when you get a tattoo: “Are you sure? It’s forever.” In recent years, tattoos have popularized so much that Spain occupies The sixth place in the world With more tattooed people, and any event It looks like a good idea. However, according to A study by Lutronic PBSManufacturer of medical-aesthetic laser devices, in our country 60% of the people who tattoo regret it. The most common profile in this trend are women between 35 and 50 years old. And it is not an isolated phenomenon: An American investigation Pew Research showed that one in four people regrets at least one of his tattoos. Examples. This is the case of Natalia, 35, who has asked not to reveal her real name. She decided to erase the micropigmentation eyebrows due to the misinformation about this treatment. When he made them, they told him that it would be semi -permanent, but in the end it turned out to be like a tattoo. As she herself, there is no harm that for good does not come: when looking for a center where to eliminate micropigmentation, she also took the opportunity to erase her first tattoo, which “had nothing to do with it.” The story of that first tattoo dates back to his 18 years: “He was too young, it was more as a impulse of rebellion,” he explained. Over the years, more tattoos were made, but he has assured that “it has nothing to do with my style.” It is easier to do so than eliminate it. “The tattoos ink is deposited in the dermis, the second layer of the skin, because its molecules are too large for the body to break down,” Expert Goergen explains CNN. Laser devices emit rapid energy pulses that fragment the ink into smaller particles, which the body processes through the lymphatic system. In safe hands. So it is essential to have a good professional when making a tattoo. In the case of Sara, 30, who also wants to preserve her identity, her tattoo was performed by a person who considers “a bit inexperienced.” He does not like how he looks or how the tattoo feels in his ankle: “In the background I feel sorry to erase it. I did it with 21 years with money that I had saved, but it is like bulky, as if I had not healed well.” Sara consulted with a dermatologist who told him that the ink could have crossed the surface layer of the skin and that it would be advisable to eliminate it as soon as it could. This situation resembles a Swedish preliminary study, conducted with 11,000 people, which suggests that those who have tattoos They have 21% more risk of developing lymphomas compared to those who do not understand it. A good team. It is important to keep in mind that the process of removing laser tattoos, such as Q-Switched, requires specialized training. Natalia was clear: he thoroughly investigated and specifically sought that team, considered one of the most effective for erase. According to the Spanish Society of Aesthetic Medicinethe incorrect use of these equipment, poorly regulated or applied by unprepared people, can cause serious adverse effects, such as burns or scars. In addition, the organization complaint work intrusion and lack of regulation in these cases and others of aesthetic medicine. How many sessions do you need? Although there are clinics that promise to eliminate a tattoo in a single session, experts from the IML Dermatological Clinic They have warned that this is only possible in very specific cases (very small, old tattoos, with black and shallow ink). The most common is to require several sessions, separated by weeks or months. And yet the process is not exempt from complications. The least visible of the process. Jayne Foo, Singapore financial consultant, is part of a growing tendency of Influencers that shares your experience with aesthetic clinics to show the “before and after.” In his account he explains that he has had open wounds, huge blisters and extreme itching. In his networks he confirms that it is not so simple since you have to take precautions and avoid the sun. In addition, she warns that many videos in networks can be misleading, since they show what is known as frosted effect, which seems to clarify the ink immediately, it is only a temporary reaction that lasts about 15 minutes. An explosion to reverse the ink. Under him Hashtag #Tattoremoval on Instagram and Tiktok, more and more people show their tattoo elimination process. The influencer Claudieta, with more than two million followers, He has confessed: “Never make a tattoo at a time that you are bad psychologically.” In this context, and recently, A fans account of the actress Amanda Bynes a video has uploaded how a tattoo of the face is being erased, adding to the Trend viral. In the end a tattoo is an choice of life. A study revealed that the most impulsive people tend to tattoo more. But, as the interviewees have told us, what hurts is not so much impulse, but the process of reverse. Be that as it may, decisions are free and there is always time to change. Sometimes, erasing a tattoo is not forgetting the past, but accepting that it is no longer part of the present. Image | The Dame and Jayne Foo Xataka | The tattoos were always among us. And the European kings gave a Japanese dragon on their arm

China has built such a huge laser that is seen from space

Last year, China revealed a budding technology to which They had called Crazy Li. It was an unpublished combat laser capable of cutting metal or causing blindness on the battlefield. What has now discovered an American satellite is completely different from everything known. By size, we are facing an unusual development, so much that it is seen from space. A technological colossus. Apparently, everything indicates that China is developing in the city of Mianyang, Sichuan province, A huge laser fusion research centera technology with the potential to provide clean and unlimited energy. A project that also could also have military applications in the design and modernization of nuclear weapons, According to analysts from two independent intelligence organizations. And how have we learned? Satellite images have revealed A structure with four gigantic arms that will house laser bays directed towards an experimentation center where fusion tests will be performed using hydrogen isotopes. According to analyst Decker Evelethof the CNA Corporation, this installation is at least 50% larger than the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in the United States, which would make it the largest nuclear fusion center in the world. The company would have been monitoring its evolution from space since in 2020 it was just “a land patch.” The project, called Laser Fusion Major Device Laboratoryit had not been previously reported, which has generated concern in the international community about its true purpose. How the laser fusion works: star energy. Nuclear fusion consists of joining hydrogen atoms to generate energyreplicating the process that occurs in the sun and other stars. Unlike the nuclear fission currently used in nuclear plants, Fusion does not generate long -term radioactive waste or pose catastrophic accident risks. In this type of facilities, the powerful lasers shoot on a central chamber that contains hydrogen isotopes, compressing them until they merge and release a huge amount of energy in a process known as ignition. In the case at hand, the design of the Chinese installation presents those four huge arms that They will channel the laser energy towards a central tower where the fusion chamber is located. China vs.euu. Until now, the National Ignition Facity from the United States has led the laser fusion research for decades, achieving in 2022 a historical milestone: The first fusion reaction with net energy gain. The only “but”: the advance did not tell the energy expenditure necessary to feed the lasers, which still leaves the merger far from being viable as a commercial source of electricity. For its part, China, With its aggressive approach in technological developmentcould be shortening the distances. Analysts such as Melanie Windridge, director of Fusion Energy Insights, highlight that the Asian country is advancing with determination and speedwhich could give it a strategic advantage. For Andrew Holland, director of the Fusion Industry Association, if the United States and its allies do not accelerate the investment in nuclear fusion, China could win the race in a short time. Its ability to carry projects from the concept to construction is remarkably faster than that of the West. China East Fusion Reactor Energy or weapons? It is the big doubt after knowing the images. Beyond its application in energy production, these facilities can also perform A crucial role in the development of nuclear weapons. Both China and the United States are signatories of Complete prohibition treaty of nuclear testswhich prevents testing with atomic explosives. The problem? The capacity of these facilities It allows to simulate nuclear explosions without physically detonating themoffering key data to improve the design and performance of nuclear eyes. In this regard, William Alberque, analyst at the Henry L. Stimson Center, He pointed to the CNN that any country with an installation similar to the NIF inevitably will use its ability to improve its nuclear arsenals. Eveleth coincides, suggesting that the Chinese project It could allow the development of more sophisticated weapons, even smaller and more efficient versions. While some experts believe that this advance reduces the need for real nuclear tests, it could also mean a modernization of the Chinese arsenal without the country needing to perform test explosions, thus avoiding international sanctions. And a hybrid reactor? It is the other possibility that is considered, that the installation in Mianyang is not only a conventional laser fusion installation, but A hybrid fusion-fission reactor, which would further raise its strategic potential. The reason? This type of technology combines nuclear fusion with fission to generate energy more efficiently. According to Holland, if China develops this type of reactor, It would be more advanced than any similar installation in the Westwhich would consolidate its leadership in the field of advanced nuclear energy. Geopolitical implications. China’s advance in the construction of this installation points to part of an ambitious energy and military development program, marking a new phase in technological competition with United Statess. As we said, nuclear fusion has been considered The “energy of the future” for its ability to provide clean and unlimited electricitybut also represents a powerful tool in terms of national and geopolitical security. While the United States continues to lead scientific achievements in the field, China accelerates or seems to be demonstrating A much faster construction and scalability capacity. A development that could influence the balance of global power, not only in the energy field, but also in the strategic and military. A fact to consider: China has performed 45 nuclear tests in its historya significantly lower number than The 1,054 of the United States. In other words, its detonation database is more limited, so the use of advanced fusion simulations could be crucial to improve their designs without the need for real evidence. Image | Planet Labs PBC, Chinese Academy of Sciences In Xataka | His name is Crazy Li and is able to cut metal or cause blindness: China has developed an unpublished combat laser In Xataka | This is ‘Orca’, the new Chinese military ship without crew and up to weapons

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.