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Why Realta Fusion is building a fusion reactor at an old hot dog factory

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Realta Fusion has spent the last two years looking for somewhere to build its research and development facility. In the end, it decided the old Oscar Meyer factory in Madison, Wisconsin.

“From sausages to fusion,” Kieran Furlong, co-founder and CEO of Realta Fusion, told TechCrunch with a chuckle. The new center, called Forge, will create its first plasma in 2029, he said. Realta recently showed that it could convert energy from fusion reactions directly into electricity, potentially easing the path to a commercial power plant.

The Oscar Meyer site’s ample power was attractive, as was its proximity to Realta’s existing headquarters in Madison. But what ultimately pushed the startup to stay was bipartisan support from the state’s government, including the governor and the legislature.

“Wisconsin really decided they want to throw their weight behind fusion,” Furlong said.

For the state, the timing could be fortuitous. Fusion power has been on an upswing as demand for electricity surges on the back of economy-wide electrification and proliferating AI data centers. This year alone, fusion power startups have raised over $1.5 billion.

Realta Fusion will receive estimated $55 million in incentives from the state of Wisconsin and the city of Madison. The startup also has deep roots in the city, having been spun out of an experiment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. And the university graduates a number of talented plasma physicists annually, providing a deep pool of talent. Shine, another fusion company, is located in a nearby suburb.

Realta’s decision to stay in Wisconsin is also surprising given that most fusion startups have located themselves near a national laboratory or on one of the coasts. Another Wisconsin-grown fusion startup, Type One Energy, decamped to Tennessee in 2024.

Since then, Wisconsin has embraced fusion power. Republicans and Democrats supported a sales tax exemption for the fusion industry, which was signed into law in April. That one measure alone will save Realta an estimated $37.5 million, a significant chunk of the total $55 million package. The state is kicking in another $15 million in enterprise zone tax credits, while the city of Madison has offered $2.8 million in tax increment financing.

While other states might have pitched similar amounts, Furlong said that there were other, intangible benefits to remaining in Wisconsin.

“It’s also advantageous to be the state champion,” he said. “We get the attention of people who matter, who can help us, who want to see Realta succeed and want to see Wisconsin be a major hub for fusion.”

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Super Falcons Goalkeeper Nnadozie Emerges as Save Queen in England, Edges Chelsea’s Hampton 

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Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has capped a remarkable debut season in England by finishing as the goalkeeper with the highest save percentage in the 2025/26 Barclays Women’s Super League.

READ ALSO: Chiamaka Nnadozie Has Spectacular Quality, Says Brighton Veteran Nikita Parris

The Brighton & Hove Albion shot-stopper recorded an impressive 74.7 per cent save rate, narrowly beating Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton, who finished with 74.6 per cent, while Manchester United’s Phallon Tullis-Joyce placed third on 73.6 per cent.

Nnadozie, who joined Brighton from Paris FC on a free transfer in July 2025, quickly established herself as one of the league’s finest goalkeepers.

Across 19 league appearances, the 24-year-old faced 83 shots on target and denied 62 of them, underlining her consistency in one of Europe’s most competitive women’s leagues.

The Nigerian international also kept six clean sheets and prevented an estimated 3.3 goals, with her performances playing a key role in Brighton’s competitive campaign.

Earlier in the season, Nnadozie won the WSL Save of the Month award following a spectacular fingertip stop against Liverpool. That effort also earned her a nomination for the league’s Save of the Season honour.

Beyond her individual accolades, the former Paris FC goalkeeper was instrumental in Brighton’s historic run to their first-ever Women’s FA Cup final.

Although the Seagulls narrowly lost to Manchester City at Wembley, Nnadozie produced another standout display with six crucial saves.

Her impressive campaign also saw her finish joint-fourth in the WSL clean sheets chart, further cementing her reputation as one of England’s elite goalkeepers.

The outstanding season adds to an already glittering year for the Super Falcons star, who was crowned CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year for a record third consecutive time and finished fourth in the race for the Yashin Trophy.

Nnadozie has now switched her focus to international duty after linking up with the Super Falcons in Morocco ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where Nigeria will be chasing a record-extending 11th continental title.

With her confidence soaring after a stellar maiden season in England, the Brighton goalkeeper will be expected to play a pivotal role in the Falcons’ quest for African glory.

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Senate Passes Bill Establishing Federal University of Medical Laboratory Science in Jos

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The Senate has approved a bill seeking to establish the Federal University of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology in Jos, Plateau State, a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system and expanding the country’s capacity for disease diagnosis, research and medical laboratory training.

The bill received the endorsement of the upper chamber during plenary after lawmakers considered and adopted it at the Committee of the Whole. Its passage marks another step in efforts to improve healthcare education and develop a stronger workforce for Nigeria’s health sector.

The proposed institution is expected to focus on the training of medical laboratory scientists and other healthcare professionals, while also serving as a centre for biomedical research, innovation and advanced diagnostic studies.

Lawmakers said the university would help address gaps in healthcare delivery and support efforts to improve disease surveillance across the country.

Leading debate on the legislation, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele urged senators to support the measure, describing it as one of several important bills designed to strengthen key sectors of the economy. The bill was eventually approved alongside amendments to other legislations considered by the Senate.

The development has been welcomed by stakeholders in the medical laboratory profession, who described it as a major boost for healthcare development in Nigeria.

Reacting to the passage of the bill, the Provost and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos, Prof. Sunday Etukudoh, said the decision would have a lasting impact on the nation’s health security and scientific advancement.

“COVID-19 stripped us bare and whispered a truth we must never forget: A nation that cannot diagnose cannot defend itself,” he said.

Etukudoh said the proposed university would play a vital role in building local expertise, strengthening research efforts and producing professionals capable of meeting the growing demands of the healthcare sector.

“This is not bureaucracy. It is prophecy. Today, Nigeria has taken a bold step toward strengthening its health security, scientific independence and the future of medical laboratory education,” he stated.

He also called on the Federal Government to ensure the institution becomes operational without unnecessary delays, stressing that the university would contribute significantly to the country’s healthcare future.

“I call on the Federal Government to prioritise this university. Nigeria’s health security hangs on it. Nigeria’s youth’s destiny hangs on it. Nigeria’s scientific independence hangs on it,” he said.

According to him, the institution already possesses significant infrastructure required for a university environment. He noted that the permanent site contains modern academic facilities, including lecture halls, administrative buildings, an electronic library and advanced diagnostic and research laboratories.

Despite the progress recorded in infrastructure development, the provost expressed concern over the absence of student accommodation facilities. He urged authorities to address the challenge to ensure a smooth transition into a full-fledged university.

“We have built the classrooms of a university. We have raised the laboratories of a university. What remains is to build the home of a university. A university without hostels is a body without a heart,” he added.

Etukudoh further encouraged students and young professionals in the medical field to embrace emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, noting that innovation would continue to shape the future of healthcare and medical diagnostics around the world.

The proposed university is expected to emerge from the existing Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology in Jos. The institution traces its roots to a training unit established in 1954 under Nigeria’s Hospital Services before attaining federal college status in 2006.

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