Energy · 1952
First thermonuclear fusion
Ivy Mike proves humans can release energy by fusing hydrogen isotopes.
The 1952 Ivy Mike test used a fission trigger to fuse deuterium, releasing about 10 megatons. It confirmed fusion could be ignited on Earth and set the goal of doing it in a controlled, peaceful way.
What it built on 3
What it led to 2
Related measurements
The dashed line marks when it first worked.
Record fusion triple product Latest: 1.73×10²² keV·s/m³ (2017) Source: Wurzel & Hsu 2022, Physics of Plasmas 29, 062103; Wurzel & Hsu 2025 update, Physics of Plasmas 32, 112106
Nuclear electricity generation Latest: 2.81k TWh (2025) Source: Our World in Data