Latest news with #plasma
Sustainability Times
6 hours ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Elusive Plasma Voids Found': US Scientists Crack Tokamak Confinement Mystery After Decades of Global Fusion Frustration
IN A NUTSHELL 🔥 UC San Diego researchers have introduced a new theoretical model that may resolve the plasma boundary discrepancies in fusion reactors. have introduced a new theoretical model that may resolve the plasma boundary discrepancies in fusion reactors. 🌊 The study highlights the role of previously overlooked structures called 'voids' , which contribute to turbulence at the plasma edge. , which contribute to turbulence at the plasma edge. 🔍 This research addresses the 'shortfall problem' , where simulations fail to predict the observed turbulent behavior in tokamaks. , where simulations fail to predict the observed turbulent behavior in tokamaks. 🔧 If validated, the model could enhance the design and efficiency of future fusion reactors, advancing the quest for sustainable nuclear fusion energy. Recent advancements in nuclear fusion research have brought focus to the enigmatic plasma boundary, a critical component in sustaining fusion reactions. Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, have developed a groundbreaking theoretical model that sheds light on previously misunderstood structures known as 'voids.' These insights could be pivotal in resolving discrepancies in fusion energy research, particularly in the context of tokamaks—advanced devices designed for controlled nuclear fusion. As the scientific community explores these new findings, the potential for achieving a sustainable fusion reaction seems closer than ever. Understanding the Plasma Boundary The plasma boundary is a key area of interest in nuclear fusion research, particularly in the operation of tokamaks. These advanced devices use powerful magnetic fields to confine plasma at temperatures reaching millions of degrees Fahrenheit. The plasma boundary, however, presents a complex layer of turbulence that has historically puzzled scientists. Known as the 'shortfall problem,' this issue arises when computer simulations fail to accurately predict the behavior of the turbulent layer at the plasma's edge. Maintaining the right conditions at this boundary is crucial for sustaining nuclear fusion reactions and protecting reactor components from extreme heat. The inability to account for this turbulence has been a significant obstacle in the development of reliable fusion reactors. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the plasma boundary's physics is essential for advancing fusion technology. 'Pentagon Goes Nuclear Again': U.S. Deploys Microreactor Test Beds to Secretly Power Remote Military Bases Without the Grid The Role of 'Voids' The recent research conducted at UC San Diego has redirected attention to the processes occurring at the plasma's outer boundary. This region undergoes dynamic changes, characterized by gradient relaxation events that produce distinct structures. While past research primarily focused on outward-moving 'blobs,' the inward-moving 'voids' had remained largely unexplored. These voids, which move inward from the plasma boundary, play a crucial role in the dynamics of edge-core coupling. The study by physicists Mingyun Cao and Patrick Diamond proposes that voids function as coherent, particle-like entities. By treating voids in this manner, the researchers could analyze their impact on plasma behavior, offering new insights into the mechanisms driving turbulence. 'China Leaves West in the Dust': Its Small Nuclear Reactor Leap Puts Beijing Years Ahead in the Future of Clean Energy A New Model for Turbulence Generation The groundbreaking model developed by Cao and Diamond highlights a previously overlooked mechanism for turbulence generation. According to their findings, as a void moves from the cooler plasma edge toward the hotter core, it traverses steep temperature and density gradients. This movement generates plasma drift waves, which facilitate the transfer of energy and momentum, ultimately creating additional local turbulence. This novel mechanism could explain the extra turbulence observed in experiments, which earlier models failed to account for. If validated, this model could significantly enhance the accuracy of predictive simulations, aiding in the design of future reactors and improving plasma control techniques. The study underscores the importance of understanding void dynamics for optimizing fusion reactions. China Caught Off Guard as U.S. Unleashes Liquid Uranium Rocket to Conquer Mars with Unmatched Nuclear Speed Implications for Future Research The model proposed by the UC San Diego researchers remains theoretical, but it holds significant promise for the future of nuclear fusion research. By offering a potential solution to the shortfall problem, this model could lead to more reliable predictions of plasma behavior. Such advancements are crucial for the development of efficient fusion reactors capable of providing a sustainable energy source. If further experiments validate the model, it could revolutionize the approach to plasma control and reactor design. As the scientific community continues to explore these findings, the potential for achieving controlled nuclear fusion becomes increasingly tangible. This research not only addresses longstanding questions but also paves the way for innovative techniques in fusion technology. As researchers delve deeper into the mysteries of the plasma boundary, the quest for sustainable nuclear fusion energy continues to evolve. With the potential solutions offered by this new model, the future of fusion research looks promising. What other breakthroughs lie ahead in the pursuit of harnessing the power of the stars? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.4/5 (29)
CTV News
2 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Edmontonians top blood donors, new centre aims to further improve numbers
Donors give blood at the grand opening of the new Canadian Blood Services' Edmonton collection centre on June 19, 2025. (Galen McDougall/CTV News Edmonton) Edmonton is vying to be the top contender in Canada in blood donations and officials say a new centre could help. Canadian Blood Services (CBS) held a grand opening for its new centre on 106 Street and 42 Avenue on Thursday. Dr. Graham Sher, CBS CEO, said the new centre is one of Canada's largest and offers an improved experience for staff and donors, which is critical in keeping repeat donors. 'Donors tell us consistently that one of the most important things they want in order to keep coming back is time and convenience,' he said, adding the new centre is more spacious, efficient and easier to park at. There are 42 collection centres across Canada, but not all do what the Edmonton centre does in collecting plasma and platelets as well. Plasma, the liquid part of blood, is in particularly high demand, Sher said. 'Because from plasma, we can make many, many important drugs – life-saving drugs,' he said. 'And the demand for these plasma-derived drugs is growing enormously.' Jacob Guziak Jacob Guziak (right) and his mother Andrea Fernandez attend the grand opening of the new Canadian Blood Services' Edmonton collection centre on June 19, 2025. (Galen McDougall/CTV News Edmonton) Jacob Guziak was born with an immune disorder known as bubble-boy disorder. He has relied on monthly treatments with plasma products since he was a baby. 'Donors are very important, because they are the ones giving us these antibodies that Jacob cannot create yet,' said his mother Andrea Fernandez. 'In reality, every donor is giving us another birthday, another smile, another day.' Sher said it can take thousands of plasma donors to make the treatment Guziak needs each month. He hopes the improved experience at the Edmonton centre will help the city continue to be a top collector. 'We would love Edmonton to keep performing the way it is, and if it became the top performer in the country, that would be amazing,' he added. The new centre opened for donations in late April. You can check your eligibility to donate blood or book an appointment on the CBS website.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Coventry woman's donor plea after having life-saving plasma
A woman who received blood plasma after being diagnosed with a rare condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) has said she would not be here today without from Coventry, who asked not to share her surname, spoke out after the NHS said blood stocks were running chiefs have called for 200,000 new donors to come forward to avoid a "red alert", where there is a threat to public said it took about 150 donors to save her life a couple of years ago. "I wouldn't be talking to you today without people donating plasma. I developed a very rare blood condition a few years ago and in the space of a week, I needed over 150 units of plasma to keep me alive," she said."They took my plasma out of my blood and gave me donor plasma back."NHS trusts describe TTP as a rare disease, related to blood clotting, that has to be treated in said donating blood and plasma "saves lives", adding: "If you've never done it before, it doesn't take long, it's a really simple thing to do, but it makes such a huge difference to people like me".NHS Blood and Transplant, the body that oversees England's blood donation system, has said the number of regular donors needs to rise from about 800,000 to more than one million to maintain a safe and reliable supply. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Australia lifts plasma donation ban for gay, bisexual men in world first
Rules that effectively banned all sexually active gay and bisexual men from donating blood and plasma are being lifted in Australia. The rules, originally introduced to decrease the risk of blood donations from groups with a higher chance of HIV exposure, will begin being revoked from next month, following similar moves in the UK and under the changes, Australia will become the first country in the world to remove all sexual activity-based restrictions on plasma donation, the national blood donation service Lifeblood new rules have been approved by the country's health products regulator, and are estimated to expand the donation pool by 625,000 people. Lifeblood's Chief Medical Officer, Jo Pink, in a statement said the changes are a significant milestone."Blood safety is and always will be our top priority, but we know the current donation rules have been very difficult for many people in the LGBTQIA+ community... we know that they've contributed to the stigma faced by [them]," she any men or transgender women who had sex with men in the previous three months were banned from donating blood or plasma, as were sex workers and women who have sex with bisexual most people in a sexual relationship of 6 months or more with a single partner will be eligible to donate blood, regardless of their gender or the new rules, Lifeblood will no longer ask men if they had sex with men in the previous three all donors will be asked if they have had anal sex with new or multiple the answer is yes, they will need to wait three months to donate blood, but are still eligible to donate taking HIV prevention drug PrEP will also be able to donate plasma, though they are still blocked from donating only group who are still unable to donate plasma are those with HIV, and those with a partner with plasma donation rules will come into effect on 14 July, with the updated approach to blood donations to be implemented sometime in conducted by Lifeblood, with the University of New South Wales' Kirby Institute, showed that rule changes would not have any impact to the safety of blood and plasma in particular goes through a process called pathogen inactivation, which filters out viruses and bacteria, significantly reduces the risk of an infection being passed on to a demand for plasma is already at an all time high and is still rising, including in Australia, so Lifeblood hopes the changes will provide a much-need boost to supplies."We welcome this change which potentially unlocks thousands of donations of life-saving plasma, which is in high demand in Australian hospitals," Health Equity Matters chief executive Dash Heath-Paynter said in a reporting by Lana Lam
ABC News
4 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood loosens rules around LGBTQIA+ donating blood and plasma
Restrictions around sexually active gay and bisexual men donating blood and plasma are being loosened in a new world-leading move by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. Under current rules, gay and bisexual men, and transgender women who have sex with men, cannot donate blood or plasma if they have had sex in the past three months. But from July 14, in the first set of rule changes, Lifeblood will remove most restrictions on donating plasma related to sexual activity. It has called this world-first the "plasma pathway", and says it will mean "most people, including gay and bisexual men, and anyone who takes PrEP, will be able to donate plasma without a wait period, providing they meet all other eligibility criteria". PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis and involves HIV-negative people taking antiretroviral medication to protect them and prevent infection. "Extensive research and modelling show that there will be no impact to the safety of the plasma supply with this change," Lifeblood said in a statement. Lifeblood chief medical officer Jo Pink said plasma was now the donation Australians needed the most, and the change would allow more than 600,000 extra people to give blood. "We're excited to be able to welcome more people from across the community into our donor centres from next month," Dr Pink told News Breakfast. "We now anticipate an extra 24,000 donors and 95,000 extra donations of plasma to be made each year." Dash Heath-Paynter, the CEO of Health Equity Matters, said the change "potentially unlocks thousands of donations of life-saving plasma". "Members of the LGBQTIA+ community members can now help those whose lives depend on plasma donations without a donation deferral period," Mr Heath-Paynter said. Alongside the changes to plasma donation rules, Lifeblood is working towards making changes to blood and platelet donation eligibility. Lifeblood said the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) had approved a submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules. It will mean that all donors will be given the same questions about sexual activity, regardless of gender or sexuality, once the changes come into effect. Men will no longer be asked if they have had sex with another man before they donate blood. On top of that, people in a sexual relationship of six months or more with a single partner will be able to donate blood and most people with new or multiple partners will also be able to donate if they have not had anal sex in the past three months. Lifeblood has not given a date for when the changes will come into effect, but Dr Pink is hopeful of it being from early next year. "There are many steps that Lifeblood needs to take before we can implement the new gender-neutral assessments, including working with state and territory governments to change the donor questionnaire," Dr Pink said. These changes to blood- and plasma-donating rules will "make it easier for more people in the LGBTQIA+ community to donate" Dr Pink added.
