Academic bodies say disarmament and understanding the risks of nuclear war are now top global scientific priorities, alongside issues such as artificial intelligence, health and social inequality

Ultra-rare tritium is needed to jump start fusion reactors. But global supplies are tiny, and most is produced as a byproduct of specific nuclear fission plants concentrated in Canada - a shortage with geopolitical implications

Michel Claessens, who turned whistleblower against the megaproject in 2021, claims it deceived the public by ‘overselling’ fusion. More recently, ITER has dialled down its claims, and Claessens now says it is a ‘worthwhile project’  

At COP28, US climate envoy John Kerry announced a plan to bolster links with other countries to commercialise the as yet unproven technology. Where geopolitical rivals like China fit into this plan remains unclear

The nuclear fusion project at ITER will be cut by €120M, while basic science and health and climate R&D get a bigger than expected top up in 2024

The nuclear industry has welcomed European Commission plans for a concerted effort on small modular reactors. A new international consortium plans to demonstrate the technology in Belgium

In a Parliament debate last week, the leadership of ITER gave a fraught assessment of the issues plaguing the international fusion project. Some MEPs are warning the project’s survival is at risk

London won’t rejoin the EU’s Euratom programme after missing out on too many big fusion construction contracts. It could find a workaround to stay partially involved in ITER, but that will need agreement of the project’s founding members – including Russia

MEPs believe investment in small modular reactors is needed for Europe to develop a sustainable  low-carbon energy system

$1.4B has been raised and 13 fusion start-ups have launched in the past year globally. But the industry now faces a valley of death as it tries to attract fresh money to build nuclear fusion prototypes