Researchers have developed a beer-fridge-sized nuclear fusion reactor that advances the field closer to practical fusion energy. This compact, room-temperature device uses electrochemical loading of deuterium into palladium, achieving a 15% increase in nuclear fusion rates. The breakthrough addresses a 35-year-old fusion mystery and revives interest in cold fusion concepts, which had been controversial. The development marks a new phase in nuclear energy research, with experts describing it as the beginning of a 'Golden Age' for nuclear power. Additionally, new artificial intelligence methods are being applied to improve plasma heat management in reactors, further accelerating fusion technology progress. The U.S.-based company CFS has stated that the necessary technological innovation phase is complete, intensifying the global competition to commercialize fusion energy.