Fusion Energy Breakthroughs

This video explains the recent fusion energy breakthrough from the US National Ignition Facility and then describes how magnetic fusion energy is actually closer to making fusion energy a reality.

[@weird_0432]

When we needed him most, he returned

[@kendomyers]

Hes not the prof we want Hes the prof we deserve Edit: I messed up the batman quote anyway...

[@cipaisone]

@@kendomyersI actually want him as a prof :)

[@foley2k2]

Go heavy on the math. To understand magnetic fields you will need calculus - it doesn't go to arbitrary 3d volumes until the 3rd course. Extra dimensions beyond that could be temperature, time, and field strength. You will also need to pair that with statistics. Material science may be interesting too.

[@kayakMike1000]

​@@foley2k2meh, those are just partial differential equations. Don't scare 'em too much, differential just means something changes while another thing changes.

[@kayakMike1000]

I think I will make a company that makes high field YBCO tapes. Or custom magnet rigs.

[@lukedowneslukedownes5900]

Missed you professor. Been following you for years now. I’m year three in my nuclear engineering field thanks to you

[@blip1]

This is like a long awaited movie release, every time I see the notification on my phone.

[@illinoisenergyprof6878]

Thank you! I always hope to make more of them than I do. It is great to hear that they are appreciated.

[@christianlibertarian5488]

Still the best science guy on the internet.

[@illinoisenergyprof6878]

Thank you!

[@oneofspades]

@@illinoisenergyprof6878 Great channel. Knowledge in the field is unquestioned but your presentation is excellent. "pauca sed matura"

[@callanbrown8571]

Agree

[@Keiranful]

@@illinoisenergyprof6878 Can you please give us your perspective of what the Max-Planck-Institute for Plasmaphysics achieved with their Wendelstein 7-X Stellerator? I heard in early February, that they achieved fusion over 45 minutes, where the entire reactor was in a steady state. I would like to see a breakdown of the advantages and disadvantages of the Tokamak type and Stellerator type reactors from your perspective, because I haven't seen something like that before.

[@kayakMike1000]

​@@illinoisenergyprof6878 definite high caliber. You and Dr. O'dowd from Space Time should do a collaboration.

[@johngeverett]

This guy presents with clarity, making the technology and math understandable to normal folks.

[@Thurman321]

The public owes you a double thanks, both for your Sterling work in pure scientific research and in its communication to us, thank you sir thank you so much

[@rockpadstudios]

I love this stuff

[@transkryption]

wouldn't Stirling work in research be 92.5% pure scientific research? Obscure perhaps... I'm just trying to spread a little joy & obscure humour.

[@kayfrenly5460]

Praise be to The Great Science!!! 🙏

[@themidnightbandwidth]

CAN WE ALL AGREE ILLINOIS ENERGYPROF HAS A BANGER OF AN INTRO?!

[@BluesManPeich]

I'll never get tired of watching and rewatching the intro, especially the last explosion.

[@dvanerdivkanade]

God bless you sir, good to have you back on KZbin.

[@EEVblog]

Nice work. It was kinda disappointing to have to explain to people who saw this big announcement (more energy out than in) that the actual total energy input was almost two orders of magnitude greater than what they got out.

[@johnjay6370]

Yea, but it was still a huge breakthrough! They know the lasers and setup, is what I like call, proof of concept. It was to show that a controlled reaction with net gain is possible. Everything used to make this happen was not designed to be efficient, it was designed to work, be upgradable, testable, and configurable. I agree with your point that we still are not there YET! I put this in the category of the first fission reactor concept for a controlled reaction in the 1942 during ww2 and the Manhattan Project.

[@gianni_schicchi]

It’s write there in the summary too 😂 I had people telling me I don’t get physics and was being obstinate. This was obviously a PR announcement right when gas was going through the roof.

[@synth1002]

@@johnjay6370 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpSxY5eQba97Y80

[@sirtra]

OMG Dave also watches the professor! Love and learn a lot from you both... pls don't ever change! 🤗

[@jamesraymond1158]

Excellent summary. News accounts of the Natl Ignition facility were so obviously misleading. It was good to hear you clear it up. I would have mentioned that the laser lab was not built for fusion energy. Fusion was just an after thought. I would also have liked to hear your thoughts on Helion which seems to promise more than it can deliver. Also, please let us know if you have any stake in the companies you advise for.

[@illinoisenergyprof6878]

No ownership stakes in any fusion companies. When I do mention a company that I have even a small financial interest in -- like the graphene company Lyten -- I also mention my involvement. Several fusion companies do fund my research of course, but I also mention that. I agree with you about NIF's purpose.

[@antonnym214]

Thank you! I like the liquid metal idea! This gives me hope of having commercial fusion before I'm 80 and running for president. All good wishes!

[@DrabTechno998]

I've Always enjoyed your lectures Professor. You have a true gift to take nominally complex energy topics and present them in a way that a wider audience can understand and be inspired by. Thank you for taking the time to share this gift with all of us.

[@chipworrell6025]

about darn time you showed back up....

[@ronblack7870]

when i was in grade 6 i did a school project about how fusion is around the corner . so now i am 62 years old and fusion is still around the corner. so that was 50 years ago.

[@illinoisenergyprof6878]

me too. Of course I've spent my whole professional life working on it, and am more encouraged now than I have been for the last 30 years.....

[@sevbait]

We missed you professor.

[@TheRepublicOfUngeria]

1:07: Minor correction: the core of The Sun reaches the highest densities possible in The Solar System, but there's so much heat pushing apart the outer layers that the outer layers of The Sun have densities lower than even our atmosphere. This means that in spite of containing the most density inducing conditions possible in The Solar System in its core, that dense core is such a small fraction of the volume of space that we call The Sun that the extremely non-dense outer layers bring the average density of the entire object down enough to make it the least dense singular object in the solar system.

[@illinoisenergyprof6878]

Where the fusion happens is where the density is so high -- that is what I was trying to get at.

[@HandFromCoffin]

Yes but you're totally missing the point that of course the highest density is at the center where.. wait for it.. the fusion happens, ie the topic of this video.

[@JoeTaber]

This is better framed as a neat factoid or additional detail rather than a "correction". Thanks for sharing!

[@szaszm_]

@@HandFromCoffin His point is that this wasn't stated in the video. He's "missing the point", because the point wasn't said. Most of the viewers probably don't care, so it's not a strictly relevant detail, but it doesn't take more than 2 extra words to clarify this.

[@FireStormOOO_]

I also paused a moment here figuring out what was meant. Plasma density in the core of the sun is much more impressive than the plasmas we can confine steady-state at human scale. Could've been clearer, but doesn't undermine the presentation too much.

[@Wii_Pro_Controller]

This looks like its from 2003 and would be shown in school, but the fact it's 2023 and is very new is a weird thing indeed. Super interesting and very informative

[@Nolsie]

This man makes me want to go back to university

[@illinoisenergyprof6878]

We are always excepting students!

[@NathanDudani]

​@@illinoisenergyprof6878*accepting

[@shaunbrennan5281]

@@NathanDudani oof

[@gkhaled1]

He’s not a English professor lol

[@comment8767]

@@NathanDudani I went there, and I got excepted.

[@forensix78]

The only channel I subscribe to with notifications enabled. Thank you, Prof. Ruzic!

[@zatch01]

Always excited when I see a new video posted from this channel. Keep up the amazing work.

[@C0n7ax]

Thank you for your wonderful, informative content sir. Your nuclear power videos tend to be the basis of my pro-nuclear proselytizing efforts (to much lesser effect than yours). I still think we should be pressuring political leadership to fund large scale modular nuclear reactors of the kind you have described until fusion technology becomes commercially viable. However, the idea of scaling down the tokamaks and utilizing liquid metal poles to absorb the plasma flux is genius in it's "simplicity". Good luck and thank you for making this accessible to the general public.

[@tomhekker]

I love the way you explain things. If I had you as my professor I most likely didn’t drop out. Here in Europe, we mostly get professors lecturing about all the science, without showing any enthusiasm at all.

[@Geenimetsuri]

Another great and clearly explained topic! You manage to convey complex topics in a simple and easy to understand way.

[@rayoflight62]

What a pleasure to see you again Professor Ruzic! Loved your explanation of the ignition process. If you can - and it doesn't detract from your busy schedule - I would be happy as the size of the world to watch more of your video - Science, Power Generation, Cosmology, Society - and what else in your in-deep knowledge. As an example, there are many scientific and technical aspects of the tool and equipment utilised for the war, that would be nice to know the viewpoint of a Scientist on them. Thank you for this update on the fusion breakthrough at the INF...

[@philsturm4685]

I had a chance to talk with one of your students while they were interning at a company I worked for over a summer. I was thrilled to meet someone actually helping with this wall project. I watched your videos and read about it and then I'm talking to a college kid who worked with you on it. Very neat.

[@ELMS]

Great to see you. Yes, it only produced a million joules, but the first flight of the Wright Brothers was 120 feet. (36.5m)

[@randyhavener1851]

I have been waiting for you to do this video for the past 6 months!!! People would look at me in disbelief when I would mention the true energy consumption associated with achieving that reaction. David, thank you so much!!! Looking forward to hearing from you again.

[@kraigstull7356]

Great sailing with you Professor! Glad we focused on sailing, as this energy subject has much depth!

[@christinadehmel1156]

Thanks Dr. Ruzik, great presentation for the layperson, as usual. You're making future generations want to become scientists.

[@yamilabugattas3895]

I love your videos, it would be great to see them more often!

[@typicalaimster]

I love these videos! Probably learn more in 17 minutes than 4 years in college!

[@mattchadbourne7034]

Glad to see a new video from you, Prof. Ruzic! I always love sending your videos on fission reactors to people in the anti-nuclear crowd who say nuclear power is unsafe and should be banned. Now I have something to send to those who argue nuclear fusion is a pipe dream and will never work in reality. You're one of the best I've seen at explaining these topics in a way that's both interesting and clear for anyone to understand. Keep up the great work!

[@happyhome41]

Good to have you back. I hope you and I live long enough to see this through (that it happens soon enough).

[@aussietaipan8700]

This is the first one I've seen for ages, glad you are still making these vids.

[@gooseloose682]

you know, your voice is really calming and pleasent to listen to. Sometimes i wonder what my life would have been if i pursued an education in Physics or Chemistry. That was my 2nd choice right after Electrical engineering!

[@mrz3r012]

Thank you so much for this and all your other videos!

[@KR-ne1eb]

Thank you for sharing your experience and education and knowledge with people like myself who you don't even know !

[@vicbrava2410]

Love the videos Prof. Ruzic!

[@DrDotarSojat]

great to see you back!

[@PCr4zy]

great job, I was looking for the 2/3/200e06 numbers for a long LONG time.

[@rajeshganesan19]

Many including me are super proud that we know Prof. Ruzic. His service to science is invaluable.

[@icedoutreal]

I’ve watched all his vids, bad ass professor. Keep it the awesome work

[@seemenow8204]

Watching from Texas. I love your videos!

[@ArthurTugwell]

The king has returned!

[@mungkey]

Me just sitting down chillin , fueled by unlimited amounts of coffee and just watching Professor David Ruzic's videos

[@radboogie]

Great to see you back Prof! 👍

[@jje984]

Thank you for the update!

[@bobsmoot8454]

I love your presentations on fission and now fusion energy, I wish you’d been a professor at my school back in the 70s

[@Farmer-bh3cg]

Glad the IEP is back1 Thank you for a simple explanation of fusion energy.

[@ghaznavid]

One of the best professors I've encountered.

[@Gnefitisis]

Will never miss your lectures, Professor.

[@David-ck4ep]

Never? 😥

[@GrundleStiltSkin]

was waiting for this episode topic!!! nice!

[@jcr723]

Hope you can do more videos on this topic and more. Great video

[@jesseparrish1993]

Love your videos!

[@JimAllen-Persona]

Well explained. Thank you.

[@garymartin9777]

Great to see you back in front of the camera, doctor. I miss your very educational videos.

[@lawtonsegler1923]

Always an unbiased trustworthy presentation of the facts.

[@bobthebomb1596]

Welcome back Prof.

[@tomschmidt381]

Thanks for the technical update on the state of fusion research. I hope practical fusion pans out but for most of my life it always seems to be a decade or two in the future. Hopefully your work will prove me wrong. As others have posted I'm glad you mentioned the gross energy needed for the NIF experiment. I agree it was a fantastic scientific achievement, but probably not a route to practical fusion electrical power generation.

[@vagellan_8842]

Yay! 🎉 Your videos are always fascinating! If YT really cares about FORCING all of us plebeians to stop competing with the Billionaires for Earth's recources, they really need to put your videos in front of more people! PLEASE!

[@norfintorkjoe8925]

Thanks for highlighting this important area of research! I hope we see net gain before 2030!

[@gottspeed]

Great presentation

[@gkhaled1]

I always learn something watching these videos. I need to find an excuse to take one of his classes. I’d love to see a new series where he reacts to movies 😅

[@MasthaX]

It's been a while since the last video but as always great and insightful content. Commercial fusion by 2038 sounds great, let's hope we do!

[@zeribajr]

...and THAT'S why I love this channel! Would you make a complementary video on aneutronic fusion, such as those proposed by LPP fusion and HB11 Energy?

[@Pkshah420]

Great man returned

[@joshuaevans4301]

"Of course you need a loving glance to make anything work" Fantastic

[@SteveSmith-sk8nl]

great video thanks

[@tino_S]

I remember reading something about tokamak in the Tom Duncan physics book seemed awesome and still is

[@johnmagruder6292]

Please keep putting videos out!

[@thanksfernuthin]

Very exciting. Unfortunately, the "we're almost there" storyline has been abused my whole life. You're the first person I actually trust due to your videos on many subjects being truth based as far as I can see. If the carbon hysteria ends up finally delivering this civilization/humanity changing technology then it at least achieved that. [edit: You're not done making videos by the way. I believe you've stated neutrinos are the most dangerous element of the fusion process. Does this manage them better? And how do you actually utilize flowing lithium? (without giving up trade secrets) Does the flowing lithium remove the heat from the mechanism? And is that where most of the energy is produced? Keep up the great work!]

[@BladeTrain3r]

"Let's start with melted walls" sounds pretty badass gotta say.

[@illinoisenergyprof6878]

Way bad-ass

[@gapho5198]

He's back!

[@UnleashthePhury]

This is an incredible scientific breakthrough. Much to learn, we still have. PS - Dr Ruzic, would you consider doing a video about antimatter?

[@PrayedForYou]

Best of humanity right here.

[@gummywurms226]

I would love to see a video comparing a Stellarator to a Tokamak.

[@illinoisenergyprof6878]

great idea -- other magnetic systems too. I think you have a great idea and I will work on it.

[@adamlove706]

Yeees! Im glad you good prof. ❤ My favourite😊

[@subbox1]

He's back!!

[@icojb25]

Great video, concise but includes all the salient points. Great primer for non-nuclear engineers

[@edmonddantes587]

the king is back

[@VishaalReddyKuthuru]

Congrats on the reactor!

[@johnjay6370]

Awesome explanation!!!! We are hitting a technology singularity. Fusion energy, Quantum Computers, and AI, are all at a similar point in development. They are are showing great potential and are all in full R&D development by private companies! Those three technologies will be part of the backbone of our technology explosion for the next 50 years or more... My .02c

[@bartsanders1553]

About a half hour before this dropped, I was talking to my friends about fusion energy and how it's been 30 years away for 40-50 years. I was very glad to see an update with good news.

[@tannerhillworkshopzoomreco3266]

The LSTNuclear Fusion Reactor is the way to go. It improves on the projectile fusion technology from First Light Fusion with better collision arrangement and much higher rail gun speed. The apparatus is put inside a non-destructed container containing water and air. The water is turned into pressured steam to drive turbines.

[@geirha75]

Dear Prof. Ruzic, thanks for fascinating information on fusion. It would be appreciated if you could explain void coefficient once.

[@andrewferguson6901]

Yo dude saw you at Murphs, great production

[@Kaus5221]

We need more!

[@raiyyan8514]

bro's back🎉🎉

[@timstone3441]

He is the best prof presenter ever. BTW he can write backwards.

[@OneTrueKing23]

*patiently waiting for another video*

[@kissmyrra2030]

welcome back

[@gypsycatcher18]

since fusion is still years away, could you talk about any real world projects for next-gen fission reactors? are any countries actively pursuing this on a significant scale?

[@adamdymke8004]

He has a number of videos on next-gen fission reactors. If you want designs that are actively been pursued I recommend: Natrium reactors- kzbin.info/www/bejne/amjNgWePodaDkJY SMR- kzbin.info/www/bejne/iorRon1qi9OFg5o Micro Reactors- kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZjXoJqVnLSUfbM

[@chapter4travels]

Yes, there are many. Next-gen fission will provide every advantage that fusion promises for some distant future. Terra power, Terrestrial Energy, Moltex Power, ThorCon power, Seaborg Industries, Exodys Energy, Copenhagen Atomics to name just a few.

[@illinoisenergyprof6878]

@@adamdymke8004 Thank you!

[@nycameleon]

Great episode! How about one about the new Chinese Thorium Reactor

[@HandFromCoffin]

This guy makes me want to go back to school.

[@tonyratliff5675]

There you go now you guys are starting to get it. Now cool the room off as much as you can and you might be surprised in what happens

[@MA-oj8zk]

I remember a talk from a very well known specialist with more than 35 years of experience in operating nuclear plants and when ask about fusion reactors Prof. Homer J. Simpson calls it "boooooring".

[@ianhampton6856]

Excellent informative and enjoyable. What about ITER?

[@benhopwood3130]

Great science communication!

[@Kanner111]

That was uplifting. =D