Tucked away in a lab near Paris, scientists at the Apollon facility have quietly secured a world record: the most powerful laser ever fired on Earth. Backed by the École Polytechnique, the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and aerospace giant Thales, the laser emits bursts of energy so intense they mimic the physical conditions thought to exist moments after the Big Bang. As it stands, the Apollon laser remains comfortably in the lead — not only in terms of raw power, but in reliability. In energy research, such lasers could help simulate and refine fusion processes, as explained in SLAC’s energy programs. For now, France’s Apollon laser sits alone at the top.