A Pinch of Fusion: Zap Energy's new Z-pinch reactor will demonstrate a simpler approach to an elusive goal

Tokamaks, which use magnets to contain the high-tempera-ture plasma in which atomic nuclei fuse and release energy, have captured the spotlight in recent months, due to tremendous advances in superconducting mag-nets. Despite these gains, though, traditional magnetic-confinement fusion is still years away from fulfilling nuclear fusion's promise of generating abundant and carbon-free electricity.