Inside a nuclear fusion experiment

[@MarketsWithMadison]

This is the first time I've gone deep on nuclear fusion and it blew my mind! Thanks to OpenStar for having me. I think nuclear is going to continue to be an important trend to follow for big tech. Let me know if there's anything about fusion/fission you want me to cover next.

[@Annah382]

Super underrated channel.

[@gmfdp4852]

I discovered it just now by watching the Rocket Lab interview. I went to subscribe and was blown away by the sub count. I thought it would be millions... She deserves it!

[@AB-gb8lb]

Markets with Madison never fails to deliver! Another excellent insight into what’s going on behind closed doors in NZ.

[@DionHewson]

that was a banger - learned a lot - dude is grounded as and that casual slipping in of LK-99 was gold, Madison is a gun journalist at finance and tech - on a whole nother level

[@markputnam6371]

Thanks for this Madison. Always a joy to hear someone who is enthusiastic and obviously knowledgeable about a particular project and has the drive and energy to push it forward. Best of luck to OpenStar and their push for clean energy.

[@tonymckeage1028]

Great Video Madison, I would never have guessed there was a company researching Fusion as a green energy source in NZ, thanks for sharing

[@kiwigurn]

Yet another fantastic report. Great questions. More NZ tech stories. These should be celebrated and encouraged. Thank you for your work

[@zanshin720]

Holy shit!!! This in NZ?!?! Wicked!!!

[@stevensmart8868]

Awesome stuff. Cant wait for my mr fusion for my DeLorean.

[@Paulkjoss]

You’re on fire Madison - did not know NZ was in the fusion game too - very cool 👍🏼 Just be aware that the answer for any timeframe for anything fusion is exactly the same time it will take you to run to the part of the the horizon where you cannot see a horizon anymore. 😊

[@paulcarter7445]

Another excellent video. Regarding fusion, it's already been utilized in "hydrogen bombs" (aka H-bombs or thermonuclear weapons) starting in 1952. "Hydrogen" is a reference to the fuel used in the fusion reaction inside the bomb. It's already demonstrated its enormous energy in those bombs, the trick is to harness it in a controlled fashion, and that has bedeviled scientists and engineers for the last 70 years.

[@xmj6830]

Btw thanks Madison again for another good interview and topic.

[@k1m625]

fusion is 5 years away .........and always has been.....for the last 40 years......i wish him luck

[@kiwi_welltraveled4375]

Thank you for the excellent interview, Madison. Ratu Mataira, another Kiwi CEO who, like Peter Beck, dreams big while staying grounded in reality. I would be very interested in investing if Openstar ever goes public. I have one question: While we are all aware of the potential consequences of a worst-case scenario for a fission reactor, what would a worst-case scenario look like for a fusion reactor?

[@paulcarter7445]

There's two main ways where fusion's risks differ from fission's. 1) Fission's fuel rods can keep producing huge amounts of energy just by being in close proximity with other fuel rods, so if there's a loss of control and too many rods remain close to each other, a run-away explosion can occur, such as that at Chernobyl. Fusion reactors require constant input to control the plasma. If that constant control lapses, the plasma breaks down and stops emitting energy. 2) Fission's fuel is radioactive material that can emit dangerous radiation if it escapes the plant. Fusion's fuel is not as radioactive and is harmless if it escapes.

[@kiwi_welltraveled4375]

Thank you, Paul. This aligns with what I had in mind: that the risks associated with fusion are minimal. There are no concerns about runaway reactions or dangerous radiation. I imagine the only risk lies with the plant itself, similar to any other type of non-fission electrical generator. This is a point that could perhaps be emphasized more when promoting the benefits of fusion.

[@timkeane3800]

Are we looking at the next "rocket lab" esk success story in the making?

[@markgaia1266]

love your work Madison

[@plfrw9371]

Great video

[@xmj6830]

Fusion reaction isn't completely clean, some residual radiation remain. For example, it would produce a low amount of tritium, short-lived though, but still radioactive. Some aspects of the fusion reaction will have to be solved in term of total safety.

[@MarketsWithMadison]

Super interesting, thank you for the info!

[@kiwigurn]

Types of Waste: Helium: The primary product of fusion reactions, which is not radioactive and inert, posing no radioactive waste issue. Tritium: A radioactive isotope of hydrogen with a relatively short half-life of about 12.3 years. It's used as fuel in fusion reactions, particularly in deuterium-tritium (D-T) reactions, and can be bred from lithium within the reactor. While tritium is radioactive, its short half-life means it decays relatively quickly. Neutron Activation: Activated Materials: Fusion reactors generate neutrons which can activate the reactor's structural materials (like the walls of the plasma vessel). These materials become radioactive due to neutron bombardment. However, the radioactivity induced here typically has shorter half-lives compared to fission waste, often within the range of 50-100 years, due to the nature of the reactions and materials used.

[@ML-gg5ij]

Not all radioactive isotopes are equally hazardous. Tritium is arguably the least hazardous. It's a very low beta emitter, and has a very short biological halflife. Nothing to be worried about.

[@kiwigurn]

@@ML-gg5ij quite agree , very manageable

[@xmj6830]

@@ML-gg5ij What you say is correct and in line with my primary comment. However, it would be misleading to say that there are no waste and no risk. True, it's way better than fission. But, if we start being opaque and vague about fusion like we've been with fission decades ago, the public will develop fear because of ignorance and misinformation. I repeat, fusion has some risks associated with its use and the public needs to know how we will handle it. Thanks

[@anthonyfarrell5126]

Lost me at the 'Climate Crisis'.

[@kiwi_welltraveled4375]

I know, right! Who do these scientists think they are? Experts or something......... Next, they'll be telling us that vaccines are safe, that we've been to the moon and we live on a ball! Don't trust them, do your own research, everyone. I'm sure Anthony will agree with me, Facebook is the true source of truth!

[@grahamcook9289]

So fusion is like fission, in that it is either on or off and cannot be graduated.

[@paulcarter7445]

Not true - fission output can be varied within certain parameters - I'd image a control process would be available to fusion, perhaps by rapidly heating, cooling or reshaping the plasma.

[@grahamcook9289]

But once fusion is cracked, you then have to start harvesting helium-3 from the Moon's surface and that's where SpaceX's Starship with Super Heavy Booster comes in.

[@grahamcook9289]

But Rutherford split the Atom in good old Blighty.

[@AB-gb8lb]

He was born in NZ , studied in NZ and then went to the UK where he split the Atom. I think we claim him as the kiwi who split the atom , not as the country! Sir Edmond Hillary was born here but couldn’t climb Mount Everest in NZ 😬.

[@markputnam6371]

Your point being? He was a Kiwi regardless of where he split the atom. Ed Hillary conquered Everest which is in Nepal, doesn't make him Nepalese does it?