The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has begun a major new phase of fusion research as its flagship Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST Upgrade) enters its fifth scientific campaign. The six-month programme marks a significant step toward delivering the UK’s first prototype fusion power plant and strengthens Britain’s position at the forefront of global fusion innovation. With more than 200 scientists from over 40 international institutions involved, the campaign will deliver around 950 carefully controlled plasma pulses. Each pulse represents a brief period during which superheated plasma is confined inside the machine, providing invaluable data on how fusion plasmas behave under extreme conditions. James Harrison, Head of MAST Upgrade Science, explained: “This campaign will allow us to build on the world-first achievements from the previous scientific campaign. “We’ve had significant interest globally for experiments on MAST Upgrade, illustrating the fantastic collaboration effort in fusion research. Over the coming months, we hope to push further the boundaries of what’s possible in spherical tokamak science.” Why fusion energy is so important Fusion energy is the process that …