How is nuclear fusion different from nuclear fission and what are the key distinctions between the two processes?

Nuclear fusion is the process of combining two light atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy. Nuclear fission, on the other hand, is the process of splitting a heavy atomic nucleus into smaller nuclei, also releasing energy. The key distinction between the two processes is that fusion involves combining nuclei, while fission involves splitting them. Fusion is the process that powers the sun and hydrogen bombs, while fission is used in nuclear power plants and atomic bombs.