Azeem Azhar's Exponential View

Nuclear Fusion’s Time is (Finally) Coming


Listen Later

Nuclear fusion seems to have been “twenty years away” forever, but recent advances could mean fusion is finally on its way to becoming part of our energy mix. Azeem Azhar speaks to Nick Hawker, co-founder and CEO of First Light Fusion, a UK-based company that uses an approach it calls “projectile fusion” to generate energy.

That method uses an electromagnetic launcher to fire material towards fuel at high speeds. Nick explains why it’s one of the most promising approaches to a problem that has puzzled physicists for decades. He breaks down the challenges, both extraordinary and mundane, that fusion experiments involve.

They also discuss:

  • Why First Light Fusion’s system could generate power more efficiently than the sun.
  • When the first fusion reactor could plug into an electrical grid.
  • How many lasers it takes to turn on a light bulb.
  • @Azeem

    @FLF_Nick

    Further resources

    Investing in Deep Tech for an Abundant Future (Exponential View Podcast, 2021)

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Azeem Azhar's Exponential ViewBy Azeem Azhar

    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9

    4.9

    601 ratings


    More shows like Azeem Azhar's Exponential View

    View all
    HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

    HBR IdeaCast

    242 Listeners

    The McKinsey Podcast by McKinsey & Company

    The McKinsey Podcast

    378 Listeners

    This Week in Startups by Jason Calacanis

    This Week in Startups

    1,268 Listeners

    a16z Podcast by Andreessen Horowitz

    a16z Podcast

    1,003 Listeners

    The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch by Harry Stebbings

    The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

    513 Listeners

    Cold Call by HBR Presents / Brian Kenny

    Cold Call

    195 Listeners

    Masters of Scale by WaitWhat

    Masters of Scale

    3,963 Listeners

    Y Combinator Startup Podcast by Y Combinator

    Y Combinator Startup Podcast

    209 Listeners

    Women at Work by Harvard Business Review

    Women at Work

    1,408 Listeners

    Dear HBR: by Harvard Business Review

    Dear HBR:

    745 Listeners

    After Hours by TED Audio Collective / Youngme Moon, Mihir Desai, & Felix Oberholzer-Gee

    After Hours

    1,265 Listeners

    Inside the Strategy Room by McKinsey & Company

    Inside the Strategy Room

    173 Listeners

    Big Technology Podcast by Alex Kantrowitz

    Big Technology Podcast

    397 Listeners

    MIT Technology Review Narrated by MIT Technology Review

    MIT Technology Review Narrated

    260 Listeners

    Me, Myself, and AI by MIT Sloan Management Review and Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

    Me, Myself, and AI

    101 Listeners

    Race at Work by 2045 Studio  / Porter Braswell

    Race at Work

    58 Listeners

    Coaching Real Leaders by Harvard Business Review / Muriel Wilkins

    Coaching Real Leaders

    643 Listeners

    No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Startups by Conviction

    No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Startups

    125 Listeners

    BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley by BG2Pod

    BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley

    438 Listeners

    AI + a16z by a16z

    AI + a16z

    29 Listeners