Has the clean energy holy grail been found?

Plus, a shocking conviction overturned and the wonder of Eaton's Christmas catalogues [Get access now!]( [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Heavy snow and freezing rain is expected to hit Toronto this morning. Commuters, [watch out for these peak storm times](. Here’s the latest on a clean-energy breakthrough, a shocking conviction overturned and the nostalgia of Eaton’s Christmas catalogue. DON’T MISS Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images climate [Scientists reveal a “Holy Grail” breakthrough to create limitless clean energy]( In a breakthrough the U.S. energy secretary likened to the first-ever plane flight at Kitty Hawk, scientists in California managed last week to produce more energy from a fusion reaction than they put into it. The development is a “Holy Grail” that opens up the door to near-unlimited clean energy (see ya, radioactive waste and carbon emissions). But while researchers have hit this scientific “break even” point, there’s still a long road ahead before engineers can account for all the power going into instruments that trigger the reaction and still come out even. Steve McKinley breaks down [how the fusion breakthrough works, what needs to come next and what it could mean for the world](. - Context: Scientists have both unlocked the potential to mitigate the climate crisis and opened the door to the potential of world power parity; in which affluent and impoverished states alike could have a stable, affordable supply of energy. - On the home front: Vancouver-based company General Fusion, in partnership with the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories in Chalk River, Ont., is taking an approach that it believes will put it closer to commercial realization when they attain net-energy-gain fusion. It aims to have a commercial reactor running by the early 2030s. Submitted Photo courts [A Toronto man has been cleared of abducting and raising a baby after the biological father “effectively recanted” his allegations]( The story was on the front page of the Star and made headlines around the world. A man was convicted in 2018 of kidnapping a formerly homeless man’s baby and raising the boy as his own. He was also convicted of stealing the man’s Ontario Disability Support Program cheques and abusing him over the decades that he lived in the family home. But now, a court has heard the biological father, Tim Goldrick, recant most of his allegations against Gary Willett and Willet’s wife, Maria. [Jacques Gallant reports on the contradicting testimonies in the dramatic saga that saw all of Gary Willett’s convictions overturned](. - Wait, what? Although Gary and Maria Willet faced similar charges, they were tried separately due to Maria’s health issues. Goldrick first made the accusations at Gary’s trial, but gave a mostly-different version of the events two years later at Maria’s trial. - More: Willett said through his lawyer that the case has been “total hell” for him, including the financial cost, the impact on Maria’s health, and seeing his name and details of the case published by news outlets around the world. Although he was sentenced to about five years in prison, he was granted bail pending appeal in 2018. Supplied Photo nostalgia [Eaton’s Christmas catalogue was Amazon before there was Amazon]( Published between 1884 and 1976, the Christmas catalogue was a Canadian source of wonder. Changing over time to have hundreds of pages filled with toys like Hot Wheels and Easy-Bake Ovens, to just about any household item one might need, Eaton’s catalogues “bring back really fond memories of simpler and exciting times,” said enthusiast Don Gauthier. He’s collected 144 of 176 editions. And while the gift guide buff is unique in his dedication to the memorabilia, he’s not alone in seeking that sense of nostalgia. Janet Hurley explains [why print catalogues are making a comeback in our increasingly digital world — and how it can be good for business](. - Go deeper: Eaton’s best and brightest catalogues came in the 1950s, when its largest competitor, Simpsons, merged with U.S.-based Sears-Roebuck. “The war began between Eaton’s and Simpsons, with each trying to outdo each other with bigger, prettier, colourful catalogues,” said Gauthier.  WHAT ELSE [Ottawa falls short in its response to military sexual misconduct recommendations]( says the judge who made them. Pierre Poilievre needs to win ridings like Mississauga-Lakeshore. [Insiders reveal why he didn’t try harder this time](. [Trade Minister Mary Ng broke ethics rules]( by awarding a contract to a friend, a commissioner rules. After two deferred votes, [will Toronto city council finally legalize rooming houses this week?]( Doug Ford said he plans to replace Ornge air ambulance aircrafts. [Here’s what we know](. [Danielle Smith’s clumsy free Alberta campaign is facing resistance in cities](. Toronto ranks in the top three for the longest commute in the U.S. and Canada. [Take a look at the numbers](. [Police arrested a Toronto man following two “unprovoked” stabbings]( including on a victim asleep outside. A pedestrian is dead after being struck by a GO train at Exhibition Place. [Here’s what we know](. This skin cancer vaccine by Moderna [succeeds in combination with Merck drug](. Doug Ford’s family rift is playing out on his Christmas card. [Where’s the daughter who publicly criticized his support for vaccines?]( Ethiopian stew, vegetable soup and [more recipes to try this week](. POV Toronto Star File Photo [Why aren]( 1.5 million afflicted Canadian adults in an uproar? Because long COVID saps the ability to care.]( CLOSE-UP Juan Mabromata/AFP via Getty Images QATAR: Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi celebrates with midfielder Leandro Paredes after defeating Croatia 3-0 in the Qatar 2022 World Cup football semi-final match at Lusail Stadium Tuesday. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_158600). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. Become a Star subscriber and save! Best offer of the year: 12 months for $12 [Get This Offer]( If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. 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