Nathan Howard is a plasma physicist at MIT working on the future of fusion energy — one of the most promising clean power sources on the planet. In this episode, Nathan shares his journey from childhood curiosity to cutting-edge research, explains how fusion works (and why it’s so hard), and reflects on the role of creativity, collaboration, and turbulence — in both science and life. Plus, we touch on astrophotography, fly fishing, and what keeps him hopeful about the future.