For almost a century we’ve been trying to build a star on earth. Not easy with temperatures reaching 150,000,000℃.

Today on Patented it’s the story of our efforts to make a nuclear fusion reactor with Arthur Turrell author of The Star Builders: Nuclear Fusion and the Race to Power the Planet.

Find out what people used to believe the sun was made out of; just how powerful the world’s biggest laser is, and what Argentinian fake news has to do with all this.

Produced by Freddy Chick

Executive Producer Charlotte Long

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - enter promo code PATENTED for a free trial, plus 50% off your first three months' subscription. To download, go to Android or Apple store.