Turning neutrons into electricity: Spurred on by recent scientific triumphs at Princeton and Culham, England, engineers take up the challenge of designing practical fusion reactors that can compete with fossil-fuel power plants

The factors favoring the use of fusion power are discussed, and recent progress is briefly outlined. The problems encountered in the quest for a commercially feasible reactor are examined; these include first-wall and blanket material problems and plasma heating. Details of major fusion test reactors around the world are given.