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On a clear morning in May 2025, our drone operator captured a series of spectacular views of the international territory that hosts the ITER installation. Four times as large as the Vatican City State, but slightly smaller than the Principality of Monaco, the ITER enclave covers 180 hectares, of which about half is occupied by buildings and infrastructure. The land was conceded by France to the ITER Organization in 2010, and will be returned once ITER has completed its scientific program.

See the latest aerial photos here.

At the heart of fusion energy lies one of the universe’s most untamed elements: plasma—a high-energy state of matter seen in lightning, the aurora, and most spectacularly, in our sun. Scientists have spent decades trying to control it. But why? 

In this episode, host Kruti Fayot dives into the fascinating world of plasma: what it is, why it’s essential for fusion, how it’s being tamed inside machines like ITER, and the surprising role AI might play in the future of clean energy. Featuring insights from ITER experts Javier Artola, Michael Walsh, and Alberto Loarte, with a special introduction by plasma physicist Melanie Windridge and fusion analyst Jack Moore. If you’ve ever looked up at the Northern Lights or wondered how we’ll power the future — this one's for you.

Episode 3 of Behind the Science of Fusion is available now.

Find it on the ITER website's podcast page or open it directly here. You can also find the ITER podcast at Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and Podbean.