Summary:
- A number of reactions take place in the sun that cannot be duplicated on Earth.
- Some of these reactions involve the formation of large elements from smaller ones.
- If such a reaction could be accomplished efficiently on Earth, it could provide a clean source of nuclear energy.
- Unlike fission reactions, nuclear fusion does not produce radioactive products that represent hazards to living systems.
- Extremely high temperatures (in the millions of degrees) are required.
- Methods must be developed to force the atoms together and hold them together long enough to react.