Fission vs. Fusion: What's the Difference?

As some of you may know, nuclear energy is most commonly produced through fission. Fission is the process of splitting up a heavy nucleus into two smaller nuclei and because it takes less energy to keep them together, energy is released which can be used to create electricity. Fusion is where two nuclei combine to form one singular nucleus. So in a nutshell, fission is where a heavy nucleus splits into two while fusion does the opposite and combines two nuclei into one nucleus.

Diagram visually showing fission and fusion in a simplified way

While nuclear fusion occurs naturally in places such as the core of stars like the Sun, the only known natural occurrence of nuclear fission is found at Oklo, in the Republic of Gabon. So if nuclear fusion naturally occurs more, then why is nuclear energy mostly created through nuclear fission? The answer is pretty simple actually. The conditions in order for nuclear fusion to occur requires extremely high temperatures and pressure and with our current technology, this method is not sustainable. Nuclear fission on the other hand, with our current technology, is much more easier to contain and control.

There are currently many experiments and researches being conducted into making nuclear fusion a sustainable and feasible way of producing nuclear energy. Unlike nuclear fission, nuclear fusion provides far more energy and also does not create the radioactive waste that fission does. Also, compared to the finite resources needed to achieve nuclear fission (Heavy nuclei elements such as plutonium and uranium), nuclear fusion requires isotopes such as deuterium and tritium which can be commonly found in the Earth's oceans and are considered an "unlimited resource". So although nuclear fusion requires extreme conditions in order to occur, the opportunities and benefits nuclear fusion could potentially bring are too tempting to pass up.

Overall, nuclear fusion as a way to create nuclear energy is by far better than nuclear fission in terms of energy production and waste byproducts, however, due to the difficulty in recreating the conditions in which nuclear fusion can occur in, currently nuclear fission is the most reasonable way of creating nuclear energy. In the field of nuclear energy, the possibilities are endless and the horizons continue to expand. Nuclear energy could be the key to creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle, but for now all we can do is wait and keep an eye out to new developments regarding nuclear fusion as an energy source!