The Daily published an article on January 23 called The Little Engine that Could. The article focuses on the work of Fumio Ohuchi, professor and associate chair of material science and engineering, and John Slough, associate research professor and director of research at MSNW. The two are part of the team working at the UW and the MSNW fusion lab in Redmond, Wash., building what they call a fusion engine.

The fusion engine converts fusion energy directly to electricity like a motor engine, which would make it the most efficient source of energy. A fusion reaction releases a remarkable amount of energy by combining two hydrogen isotopes. If people can harness fusion power, it would mean almost limitless, clean-burning fuel, eliminating our need for things like coal, oil, and natural gas, which account for more than 70 percent of U.S. electricity generation. 

To read more about the fusion engine and the potential it has to change our energy dependence, go here.