Timeline

Scientists begin to suspect that fusion may be the source of the sun's energy	1920
		1931	Harold Urey discovers deuterium
At Cambridge University in England, experiments show that hydrogen fusion is possible, with excess energy released	1934
		1958	-Research of (controlled magnetic) fusion is no longer classified as it is decided that it is not weapons related -Cold-war partners begin joint research on fusion energy
The tokamak fusion concept is invented by the Soviet Union and developed by Russia	1960's
		1972	17 tokamaks are in operation around the world
Oil shortages are created by the OPEC OIL Embargo, which substantially rises the price of oil. This causes energy research and development budgets to be increased around the world. In the US alone, the fusion budget increases ten-fold in just two years	1973
		1976	Princeton University begins operation of the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor. This brings major contributions of knowledge in the study of plasma physics, deuterium/tritium energy production and reactor-scale engineering
The Joint European Torus (JET) fusion machine starts up in the UK, and takes the lead as the largest fusion experiment with contributor form all over Europe and beyond	1978
		1979	The Three-Mile Island in Pennsylvania experiences a near core meltdown; no new rectors are ordered in the US
In Chernobyl (Ukraine), the world's worst nuclear accident occurs; interest heightens to find alternatives for nuclear fission	1986
		1988	Iter gets underway. Canada, the US, Russia, Japan and Europe begin design work
The Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor generates 10 MW of fusion power, the new record	1985
		1996	OPEC has 800,000 million proven barrels of reserved crude oil, or enough to last the world until approx. 2076 at 1996 consumption levels
New power record set by JET tokamak in England (16 MW)	1997
		1998	Iter is scaled down in size, reducing the total cost by approx. 4.5 billion dollars US
The United States with draws from Iter because of lack of congressional support and fusion budget reductions	1999
		2000	Over 100 tokamaks and related machines are in operation around the world

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