Fission vs. Fusion

Fusion in Physics and Politics: The Energy We Need to Power a Sustainable Future 

The seemingly far fetched notion of a future powered by nuclear fusion—clean, limitless energy sourced from hydrogen atoms—is often hailed as humanity's most promising solution to fulfilling energy demands and mitigating threats of global warming. As scientists near achieving a sustained fusion reaction, an equally urgent challenge awaits us beyond the reactor core: societal fusion. Just as fusion reactors require extreme conditions to unite atomic nuclei, humanity faces complex social and political dynamics that must be surmounted if we are to unite in halting environmental degradation. The symbiotic need for scientific and societal fusion has become more evident than ever, as we seek not only technical solutions but also cohesive, collaborative actions across a fractured world.  

The Promise and the Perils of Fusion Power 

Unlike fission, which splits atoms to release energy, fusion joins them, generating four times as much energy as nuclear fission reactions and four million times more than a chemical reaction reliant on the burning of coal, oil, or gas (Iter n.d.) The potential is alluring: fusion would generate far fewer radioactive byproducts than fission, provide energy with nearly zero greenhouse gas emissions, and rely on abundant fuel—hydrogen isotopes, readily available from water. However, the journey to commercialization remains complex and costly. 

Projects like ITER in France aim to demonstrate a viable fusion process by the 2030s. However, the investment in fusion technology is not just a scientific endeavor; it’s a choice to back a clean, sustainable future, dependent on enduring political will and public support for its eventual integration into our energy grids. 

Fusion as a Social Metaphor: Uniting a Fractured Society 

Just as hydrogen nuclei require immense pressure and heat to merge, societal fusion demands a convergence of diverse values, political will, and economic interests. Achieving this requires a profound shift from entrenched individualism to collective responsibility. Where fusion promises physical energy, societal cohesion can be seen as a form of social energy, channeling human ingenuity and resourcefulness toward solving one of the most pressing issues of our time. 

Here lies the dilemma: while the scientific community may approach energy scarcity solutions, the human element remains contentious. Societies around the world are increasingly polarized, divided not only by politics but by ideology and economic inequality. Consensus, even on urgent issues like climate change, is often elusive. Achieving such unity feels, at times, as distant as the stars where natural fusion reactions shine. 

In a divided world, how do we fuse diverse interests into a coherent global movement for environmental preservation? 

The answer lies in shared values and narratives. Climate accords, such as the Paris Agreement, serve as a tentative step, binding nations in a pact akin to atomic bonding—fragile but hopeful. Nebraska senators have proven receptive to the introduction of nuclear fusion, with Don Bacon and Pete Ricketts explicitly expressing their support (Nebraska Public Media, 2022), (Ricketts 2024). Although not necessarily for the reason environmentalists may advocate, this potential mediation substantiates the potential of convergent solutions. 

This dual pursuit—fusion in physics and fusion in politics—presents an opportunity to reimagine a future powered by both scientific and social ingenuity. For as long as the sun’s fusion sustains life on Earth, it offers us a guiding light: that the power to create a sustainable future lies in unity, whether among hydrogen atoms or human beings. 

~ Evalina Sain, Executive Director

Ambition to Counteract Ambition

The phrase “It Takes Two to Make the World Go Round” implies collaboration. It implies that we cannot work alone to accomplish something big, we have to work together. When we fail to work together, we not only inhibit progress and development, but oftentimes our own ambition counters other’s ambition. When the ambitions of humanity counter the ambitions of wildlife, humanity often wins, at least in the short term. 

If there is anything that is stronger than man, it is nature itself. Examples of nature’s power are everywhere. But in a more literal sense, Gorillas are much stronger than humans. Gorillas are about 10 times stronger than the average human (International Fund for Animal Welfare). For the gym-goers out there, that means an adult male Silverback Gorilla can bench about 4,000 pounds (Kabira). 

Gorillas, like all larger mammals, play a key role in their ecosystem, dispersing seeds and making way for new foliage (WWF). Bringing this article full circle, Gorillas are an endangered species because of humanity's selfish ambition impacting their environments; all Gorilla species are classified as endangered.

While there is no enlightening story that this article leads to, I would like to use this article to present this website as a tool for any research you wish to conduct on your own about wildlife conservation. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is responsible for the website “Red List”. This website is a powerful tool in which you can find out the status, region it inhabits, and taxonomy of any animal. I highly recommend you spend a few short minutes searching around this website. There is so much to learn.

https://www.iucnredlist.org/

~ Seamus Haney, Legislative Coordinator

The Leaflet’s Simple Steps to Sustainability

This week’s step is to “say no” to car idling! 

Car idling is the practice of running a car’s engine when it is not in motion or in use. Not only is car idling damaging to one’s car, but it also is harmful to the planet.

Personal vehicle idling wastes about three billion gallons of fuel— generating around thirty million tons of CO2 annually in the U.S. (AFDC). Some car idling is inevitable, but prolonged car idling creates excess pollution and wastes gas. The US Department of Energy found that eliminating the unnecessary idling of personal vehicles would be the same as taking five million vehicles off the roads in about a year’s time (AFDC). 

Idling also has negative impacts on one’s car. Idling can shorten battery life and degrade the engine’s motor oil (Honda). 

Here’s our solution—turn the key when stopped for ten seconds or more. Take the simple steps to reduce pollution, gas waste, and protect your car from long-term damage

~ Scout Walker, Fundraising Coordinator

This Week’s Recycling Tip: Notebooks

Notebooks are made primarily of paper, a front cover, and a coil.

Paper, of course, is recyclable. The coil too is recyclable. But you must separate both coil and paper before you throw them in the recycling.

If you have a plastic cover, throw the plastic cover into the trash and recycle the paper and coil.

For more information about recycling notebooks, see here.

What is Students for Sustainability Working On?

Students for Sustainability (SFS) is thrilled to announce that five of our members attended the Nebraska Sierra Club’s Frost Moon Banquet on Thursday, November 14, to accept the chapter’s Environmental Justice Award. We are deeply grateful to be part of a community filled with incredible supporters, including Jordan Anderson and the dedicated team at the Nebraska Sierra Club. Their leadership has not only amplified our organization’s impact but has also empowered us to accomplish bigger and better goals. We are excited to continue collaborating with the Nebraska Sierra Club and extend our heartfelt thanks for recognizing our important work with this award.

In other news, SFS hosted our Sustainable Fall Market on Sunday, November 10, and were thrilled with the high turnout and amazing vendors! One of our main objectives is to educate the community about the harms of fast fashion and promote thrifting as a sustainable alternative, which we believe this event successfully achieved. We are incredibly thankful to everyone who participated and joined us in rejecting the growth of fast fashion. Our commitment to addressing this issue continues, so stay tuned for future anti-fast fashion events!

Looking ahead, SFS is excited to host our annual fundraising concert, SFS Fest, in early January. This event not only helps us connect with the community but also raises crucial funds for our annual trip to Washington, D.C., in June. During the trip, we attend the Citizens’ Climate Lobby conference and meet with Nebraska’s federal lawmakers to advocate for critical environmental policies. We can’t wait to share this special event with you all—official details, including the date, will be announced soon!

Finally, SFS is gearing up for the upcoming legislative session. In the weeks ahead, we plan to partner with other organizations and meet with state senators to prepare for what January will bring. While we hope to see positive climate-related legislation, past sessions suggest that likelihood is low. Regardless, we are ready to actively oppose any harmful climate bills and advocate for policies that will put Nebraska on a more sustainable, environmentally friendly path. We are also on the lookout for what climate legislation and progress will look like on the federal level.

Thank you to everyone reading this for your continued support of SFS and our mission of promoting a sustainable Nebraska. This work could not be done without your support and we appreciate the hard work everyone has put in to help us achieve our goals.

~ Steven Dickerson, Omaha Central Class of 2026

You May Also Like

1. Private Jets are increasingly replacing car trips—for the ultra-wealthy. National Geographic

2. Nebraska Examiner - A new app has been used recently to limit farmer’s over application of Nitrogen—farmers are saving up to $88/acre with the same yields and doesn’t require any changes to farming practices that have been in their families for generations.

Want to Get Involved?

Learn more about Students for Sustainability here, and if you are interested in joining, check out this form.

Helpful Links

1. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

2. Omaha Recycling Guide

3. Omaha Students for Sustainability - Instagram

Thank You To

Lila Burns for her incredible illustrations throughout this newsletter bringing the entire issue to life.

Scout Walker, Evalina Sain and Steven Dickerson for their excellent work writing this week, and for their enthusiasm to do so in the first place.

Evalina Sain for her work as Executive Director of Students for Sustainability.

YOU, for taking the time to read this issue.

See you in two weeks.

Issue produced by Students for Sustainability

Contact: [email protected]