Fusion in Culture
Apart from its use in physics, the term fusion has been associated with a style
of cuisine and music whose main characteristic is the mix of diverse elements
resulting to an interesting match. Over the years, fusion has also inspired
movie directors to develop powerful dramas about the quest of the holy grail of
energy in films like “The Saint” and “Chain Reaction”, with Elizabeth Shue and
Keanu Reaves being portrayed as fusion scientists striving for what
is best for
humanity.
The challenge to communicate fusion has also been a driving force to put in
motion creative ways to illustrate different aspects of the science behind ITER.
For instance, the tokamak doughnut was presented at ESOF 2008 in an attempt to
explain why tokamaks are commonly known as doughnut reactors and how they
operate. At the 2010 Catalan Education Fair, the process of fusion was
replicated through a group of 10 percussionists divided into groups of deuterium
and tritium, that fused together as the beat turned up.
Let’s fuse together! Batek Batucada performing at the Catalan Saló del Ensenyament 2010.