“We should be pushing towards making fusion energy systems available to tackle climate change and energy security.”Fusion breakthrough is a milestone for climate, clean energyMars rover captures 1st sound of dust devil on red planetEXPLAINER: Why fusion could be a clean-energy breakthroughColorado River water users convening amid crisis concernsNet energy gain has been an elusive goal because fusion happens at such high temperatures and pressures that it is incredibly difficult to control.Billions of dollars and decades of work have gone into fusion research that has produced exhilarating results — for fractions of a second.Previously, researchers at the National Ignition Facility, the division of Lawrence Livermore where the success took place, used 192 lasers and temperatures multiple times hotter than the center of the sun to create an extremely brief fusion reaction.Riccardo Betti, a professor at the University of Rochester and expert in laser fusion, said an announcement that net energy had been gained in a fusion reaction would be significant.Maddie Burakoff reported from New York, Michael Phillis from St. Louis and Jennifer McDermott from Providence, R.I.___Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations."