The Times: A British-led team of scientists has won European Union approval to seek to make nuclear fusion using high powered lasers. The decision paves the way for a seven-year, £500 million programme to construct an experimental reactor. The prototype for the Hiper (high energy laser fusion research) project is likely to be built in Britain, using the world’s most powerful laser to generate temperatures of millions of degrees at which fusion can occur. The prototype will build on research at the US-based National Ignition Facility which is expected within the next five years to use a form of laser fusion to produce more energy than it consumes. Hiper will then develop a slightly different laser technique that is more suitable for commercial energy production.