logo
episode-header-image
Oct 6
28m 1s

Fusion and the Future of Space

NOVA
About this episode
Dennis Whyte has designed a fusion reactor for Mars, and it turns out the red planet has plenty of fusion fuel. The MIT nuclear scientist joins Hakeem to explore fusion's wildest applications: spacecraft propulsion, space stations, and even a shield that stops radiation. While they’re at it, Dennis and Hakeem discuss the roadblocks and risks still left to solve in nuclear fusion. Learn more about NOVA and visit our YouTube channel. -------------------------- Guest Bio: Dennis Whyte is the Hitachi America Professor of Engineering at MIT and former director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center. He co-founded Commonwealth Fusion Systems, the MIT spinout building a compact fusion reactor using record-breaking superconducting magnets, and is now the CEO of the United Kingdom's Atomic Energy Authority.
Up next
Yesterday
Full Interview: The Fusion Future
There is a near-limitless energy source to power our world, and it may be almost here. Dennis Whyte shares with Hakeem that we're closer than ever to bottling the power of the sun. He would know. He’s now the CEO of the United Kingdom’s Atomic Energy Authority and a nuclear scien ... Show More
1h 30m
Oct 1
How to Build a Star
Dennis Whyte helped spark a multi-billion-dollar industry from a spool of tape. The nuclear scientist and entrepreneur explains the nitty gritty of nuclear fusion through the multitude of businesses that are chasing nuclear fusion. Dennis walks Hakeem through the origin story of ... Show More
30m 45s
Sep 29
Fusion Energy is Coming
Dennis Whyte studies the physics that powers every star in the universe, and he says it can power your house, too. Now the CEO of the UK’s Atomic Energy Authority and nuclear scientist at MIT, Dennis joins Hakeem to break down what fusion actually is, why it packs 10 million time ... Show More
35m 58s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2006
Dark Matter, Northern Lights and Mars in 3D
Shedding light on the deepest depths of the universe is Gerry Gilmore, who talks about the Big Bang and the mystery of dark matter. We also hear from Peter Muller and Giulio del Zanna about 3-D imaging of the surface of Mars and how solar flares contribute to everything from the ... Show More
1h 1m
Sep 2024
Cosmic Queries – In a Zeptosecond
<p>Can nuclear fusion become the ultimate renewable energy source? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-host Chuck Nice answer fan questions about transporters, the smallest unit of time, expansion, and other ideas that push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe.</p><p>NOTE: ... Show More
45m 3s
Aug 2023
Mapping the universe
A rocket launch, super-massive black holes and ghost particles! This past week’s scientific findings are testament to how hard-at-work cosmologists and physicists have been seeking out the fundamental building blocks of our universe and the rules that govern it. Professor of Cosm ... Show More
35m 18s
Jul 2023
#360: Collaboration vs. Competition: Advancing Space Exploration Together & Other Space Questions
Discover the unexpected twist that ignited our curiosity, the twist that pushed the boundaries of our understanding of the cosmos. Rusty from Donnybrook and Russ from Stylebridge brought forth questions that transformed our podcast into an intergalactic journey, delving into the ... Show More
53m 12s
Nov 2016
The Edge of Space
What do scientists think is outside our universe? Asks Rebecca Standridge from San Francisco in the US. It’s a question which goes right to the limits of human understanding.We look for the answer using balloons, bubbles and the world’s oldest radio telescope.If you have a questi ... Show More
30m 15s
Feb 2024
#390: Wormholes, Black Holes, and Blue Giants: Your Space Questions Answered
Are you ready to uncover the mind-bending secrets of our universe? Join us as we reveal the unexpected truth about the formation of habitable planets and the potential for multiple habitable worlds within a single solar system. You won't believe how many habitable planets could e ... Show More
53m 2s
Sep 2022
Things You Thought You Knew - Big Bang Dilemma
<p>Are we rethinking the Big Bang? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore features of the James Webb Space Telescope, magnetism and how the aurora borealis works, and if the Big Bang is being debunked. </p><p>NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or ... Show More
37m 31s
May 2025
The Universe’s Biggest Secrets
The universe is hiding things from us. This episode is about what it doesn't want you to know.Are we living inside a simulation? Is there an advanced civilization out there, watching and waiting? What happens when the universe finally dies, and how will it end?These aren't hypoth ... Show More
1h 40m
Jul 2017
Order out of Chaos: How to Create a Universe
<p>Numerous mythologies speak to the birth of our universe out of darkness and chaos, but can humans follow in the footsteps of the gods? Can we create a universe in the lab? In this episode of the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast, Robert and Joe explore the primordial darkness of ... Show More
1h 6m