National Ignition Facility (NIF)

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is a research facility located in California, primarily focused on studying nuclear fusion, the process that powers the sun. It uses powerful lasers to heat and compress tiny fuel pellets, aiming to achieve "ignition," where the fusion reactions produce more energy than consumed. This research is crucial for understanding clean energy sources and has applications in national security, particularly in nuclear weapons stewardship. The NIF helps scientists explore fundamental physics while working towards sustainable energy solutions for the future.