Materials Science

The Coils That Decide Fusion's Fate: Britain's Superconducting Magnet Challenge

Britain's STEP fusion programme is planned for Nottinghamshire, but the make-or-break hardware may be the superconducting coils that confine the plasma. This is the quiet industrial story behind fusion's most demanding component.

Nov 8, 2026

The Magnet in the Nacelle: Britain's Wind Power Has a Recycling Reckoning

Every modern wind turbine is a quiet piece of applied magnetism, and some of its most valuable parts are buried in the generator. As Britain's offshore wind fleet grows, the question is not just how to build more turbines but what happens to their magnets when the blades stop turning.

Nov 8, 2026