Solar flare 'reproduced' in lab

Scientists have simulated a solar flare in the lab, recreating the super-heated cloud of electrically-charged gas seen on the Sun known as a plasma.

It was part of an initiative to develop fusion power - the nuclear energy that keeps the Sun shining.

The plasma in the lab behaved like a miniature version of a solar flare.

Scientists hope they can create a flare at low energies in the lab, to enable them to study the explosive events that take place on the Sun's surface.

news.bbc.co.uk...

I hope this brings us a little closer to using nuclear fusion as a source of energy.

Wow, that is fascinating. The article was a little vague on how it directly corrleates, and I understand a few of the basics, but could someone explain how this is turned into fusion power? I understand that a large amount of energy was released, but again, i the connection is unclear

Yay more toys for our military, seriously I doubt such technology will be put to good use. Though it would help us understand what the heck is going on with our sun to a certain extent.