What FUSION IGNITION Really Means for The Future of Energy Production

This week we got an announcement that a historical milestone was achieved. Fusion Ignition. But what it really means for the future of energy production, what most stories don't say and should you be excited after all?
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00:00 Intro
00:41 The IGNITION announcement
02:21 How fusion works on Earth
04:24 How the breakthrough was made
06:05 Problems with NIF's approach to fusion
08:38 Fusion applications in space
10:52 Should you be excited?
👉 More Space News of the week:
• Accident on ISS // JWS...
🔥 More about fusion ignition:
www.universetoday.com/159166/...
Host: Fraser Cain
Producer: Anton Pozdnyakov
Editing: Artem Pozdnyakov
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You are free to use my work for any purpose you like, just mention me as the source and link back to this video.

[@FrancisFjordCupola]

I would not call it a "discovery". I'd call it an achievement. It's something they managed to do, it's not something that was out there waiting to be uncovered. Let's hope it can be scaled up immensely. Wonder if someone could make a hybrid tokamak with laser ignition.

[@ingridschmid1709]

Had exactly the same thought .

[@HontasFarmer80]

I'd agree with this.

[@DanielSMatthews]

Look up the Australian company _HB11 Energy_

[@Cris_the_coder]

wonder what else lasers can do????

[@michaelconnaireoates5344]

Mmm yes and no its been thought of impossible If you discover what once was thought impossible made possible then it have discovered its possible. Going on your line of thought yes our achievement in using weapons as apes was still us discovering a new path

[@deep_space_dave]

Awesome! Fusion is now 49 years away 😕

[@LoneLee2022]

The countdown is on.

[@danie535]

Thank you for clearing that up for me! I’m cautiously optimistic 🙌

[@jeffmofo5013]

Short single topic videos means that you'll have more videos throughout the week. But it also means that you'll have a lot more work. Deep dives on complicated topics are good.

[@nascarpj5723]

They would be half the length if he didnt use SO many unnecessary words.

[@Sam-xx5kz]

Youre explanations are straight forward and answer all the questions most people are looking for. Im no astronomer nor am I a physicist but its nice to stay updated with your content. More single serving videos is good as long as you keep your weekly bite sized breakdown of it all in one video a week

[@SciStone]

every video on fusion and quantum computers starts by explaining all the basics, i lost count how many times i've had to sit through people explaining the basics again and again. thank you so much for adding timestamps!

[@J_Bwn]

I love the single topic video about this topic because there’s lots of conflicting news out there.

[@stevenewtube]

In my busy world, sometimes the shorter videos are great. I also love the longer form episodes as well, just brilliant!

[@collectpanda3350]

This is the only comprehensive breakdown of this story I’ve seen anywhere. Greatly appreciated

[@timothykieper]

Also check out, John Michael Godier's channel for a similar review

[@mnichols1979]

I love all the videos you put out. No matter the length, the content is always excellent. Thank you and your team for the great work.

[@svendrastrupandersen5866]

Yes, I really like that you take this topic out in a special video. I have seen and heard the news several times for the past two days, but no body care to explain how much is still ahead, before we can call it a success and harvest the fusion energy. So: thanks!

[@ChatGPT1111]

Yeah they literally have to levitate whatever fuel they choose to use. A large enough amount to say, power a city, would be monumentally difficult to levitate to prevent it touching the walls of the tanks. If the levitation ever were to fail, kaboom.

[@JaydeepDave12]

I have seen many videos on this breakthrough, but you are the one who also explained the limitations. You are awesome.

[@frasercain]

Oh thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@bentleyandgrantvideos1166]

I enjoyed this shorter show. I would appreciate more videos like this. Great work!

[@stellarpod]

I do like these occasional short, specific stories. Bring them on! As always, thanks much for sharing. Steve

[@Dr.Wael.Alrifai]

Hi Fraser, of course, I enjoyed this; and would enjoy any short video on a specific topic. It's reminiscent of the good ol' guide to space. But love everything you do, whatever it is.

[@notsoanonymous686]

I enjoyed this shorter, subject specific quick ish dive. It was a nice snippet that offered a summary, it’s potential, and info for further (personal) research. 👌🏽

[@OzHafakot]

This is awesome. I finally understand what that experiment was all about. Thank you for that. Please, do more of those specific topics.

[@MCsCreations]

Yeah, it's definitely going to be fun to follow this subject! 😊 Thanks, Fraser! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@Bright.light157]

😍

[@odacruz4986]

I've been hearing bits about this all week didn't really know what it meant until now thank you for making it easier to understand

[@penguin201]

This was great! Keep them coming!

[@aetoski8724]

such a great, yet simple breakdown.. thanks!

[@patrickoconnor661]

This was great. I didn’t understand what the excitement was about. Thank you.

[@peterjones958]

Really enjoyed the short video that focused on the one subject. Your explanation of the process etc, really help me understand what has been achieved. Excellent work thank you.

[@frasercain]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MrVillabolo]

Yes, Fraser, I would very much like to see videos of this sort. Short and focused on one topic.

[@waterboymikemjhi]

like the format and of course the content as usual

[@simon10273]

I enjoy this style of short, specific video

[@flyingfiddler90q]

Love this format!

[@johnlynch1037]

Very informative and to the point. Much appreciated, many thanks from myself and my eight year old son who watched it with me. He loves his space news.

[@59seank]

Yes. More short videos on a specific topic please!

[@Terawatt311]

I'm a huge fan of these reasonable length deep dives.

[@stevewolfbrandt4932]

Proof of concept. A good start.

[@pagesofstonewithbenjaminmo8268]

Guys!!! This is such an important moment in history!

[@frasercain]

It's a pretty big accomplishment.

[@k.sullivan6303]

Thank you Fraser.

[@kylehuntmaui]

I like every video you do, and I think these shorter focused ones sometimes are really great.

[@frasercain]

Thanks!

[@davecurtis8833]

Enjoyed the deep dive Fraser.

[@rmnimbus1]

i really like the "short single topic" videos. its what brought me to your channel in the rirst place

[@K.nd3]

I definitely prefer videos like this. This was succinct and to the point and I knew what I was getting into when I started the video. 10/10

[@fernandosalazar2298]

Yes, more please! Next one on Lagrange point 👍

[@sarcasmo57]

I hope we get some decent fusion power plants sooner rather than later.

[@frasercain]

That would be amazing.

[@senatornukeem]

I loved it. This was an important enough story to make this explainer/recap and put it in its own video. Thank you.

[@Bright.light157]

🥰

[@A.R.77]

8:00 ~ Perfect explanation.

[@cristinahutchins1902]

Thank you, yes, liked the shorter format focused on one big news item!

[@punkyroo]

What about Helion's approach to fusion? That eliminates many of the caveats outlined here. I think this achievement is exciting in and of itself, but it's the larger effort of fusion that is really exciting. So many approaches... so much science / engineering! Really excited about the future!! :D

[@TrabberShir]

Helion and General Fusion are a lot more exciting to me than ITER and LLNL. It sort of feels like the engineering net positive is first going to come through a VC startup of that sort. Enough of the science has been done that an iterative engineering approach is probably viable. People seem to forget that a lot of technology has historically gone through the engineering of "what works" before the science of how it works, or more precisely how it can be generalized, is done.

[@matthewgrotke1442]

The bottom line is that Helion's design is revolutionary in multiple ways and far superior than NIF or ITER's designs.

[@jacks1368]

Until they finish their 7th generation machine and actually capture the energy output, we won’t know for sure. But even if it doesn’t pan out as an energy source, it’s a relatively easy way of making tritium and helium-3 for other reactors (such as this one) to use.

[@richardgonzales6289]

But helion still hasn’t gained fusion ignition tho?

[@TrabberShir]

@@richardgonzales6289 My understanding is that depends on the exact definition of ignition used. Their method is a hybrid of inertial confinement and magnetic confinement and neither well accepted method of calculation cleanly applies to the design as far as I can tell. "Fusion Ignition" is really more of marketing term than a useful benchmark.

[@ffggddss]

"Practical fusion power is always 50 years away." I know this is true, having been a physics grad student 50 years ago, when that was being said. Fred

[@timothykieper]

My thoughts exactly! Perhaps you will also remember the other promise that was being made; "So cheap, you will not even need a meter on your house."

[@ffggddss]

@@timothykieper That was a repeat of the same promise made in the 50's-early 60's about fission power: "It will be too cheap to meter!"

[@beaudanner]

I enjoy the short(er) format; especially for things I haven't had the chance to read up on yet on special topics. But I never mind the longer and other news mixed in format

[@frasercain]

Thanks!

[@luciellvr]

Hi fraser, really enjoyed the fusion review, the 10 minute slot seemed the right depth for me to engage with the topic. More like this please ,. regards Ray R

[@frasercain]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jonrutherford6852]

Very happy to see this short special edition. I'd been hoping ever since the announcement that you'd offer a more realistic perspective. I think the mainstream media have honorable intentions with regard to "breakthroughs" such as this, but almost without exception they over-simplify and lead a lot of readers/viewers to an unrealistic view of some tech/science developments. You can be pretty sure a large number of people think fusion power is almost on our doorstep.

[@Battleneter]

Yep its a tiny step presented like Fusion is 2 years away, when in realty we are only a little bit closer.

[@InnaBawks]

Nice selection of graphics to portray the topics at hand.

[@frasercain]

Thanks!

[@stuartcarter7053]

Very interesting video and well explained. Thank you

[@frasercain]

Thanks a lot! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@CHEESYhairyGASH]

You are ridiculously good at this

[@williamlanphar630]

Please DO offer more of this length of presentation.

[@hoos-karl7807]

Great synopsis and summary of the experiment. You always do a great job of distilling information! Keep it up. I would appreciate some shorter single topic vids. Much easier to watch/listen in my busy life.

[@YamiVT]

Never thought I'd live to see it

[@dannybell926]

I like all your videos, so yeah.. go ahead and make more individualized ones like this!

[@k.sullivan6303]

I really enjoyed the jump you made away from your normal schedule and genre of video. I would enjoy a monthly video from you somewhere close to the types of videos made by Isaac Arthur, but with your own style. Another caveat to that idea would be that the videos are base more on what could happen in the next 100 to 200 years as opposed to billions of years into the future or the end of the Universe. These videos could take the viewer from what we know today to some kind of more likely shorter term future scenarios that might seem more relatable than million or billion year scenarios.

[@modler7023]

Very interesting and informative, but even more important, realistic about the implementation timeframe. thank you for doing it,

[@frasercain]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@TheGelatinousSnake]

Good step. Cant wait for improvements. Fission will have to hold us for the near future. Anyway you look at it, advancements are good.

[@darkdaysunrise]

good vid, id like more of this

[@alansnyder8448]

I still feel the best summary of this nuclear fusion result is found by googling the words: "Sabine Hossenfelder How close is nuclear fusion power" and listening to that to the end. Nuclear Fusion researchers and much of the media that hypes this story is guilty of conflating Q-plasma with Q-total in order to make this seem bigger than it really is.

[@roeesi-personal]

I really like this style of videos, that are more focused on a single scientific concept or event, it's a bit like the "guide to space" videos that you used to make and don't anymore.

[@SippinSoda71]

When the sound of Fraser’s voice is musical enough and you can’t deal with that background music

[@bjartefoshaug7486]

Definitely interesting 👍

[@CodeLeeCarter]

Nice little Bitesized chunk of information, I personally like these smaller videos, a little easier to retain information. Thanks again, #FraserCain

[@addisynandkenley4630]

Enjoyed,very interesting.

[@michaelgian2649]

Succinct single topic videos are most welcome when produced like this one. Thanks.

[@sureshdave3077]

Thank you

[@luckychucky3426]

I think you explained it very well you did a very good job so far all of the other videos that I've watched we're quite confusing you taking the confusion out a little bit thank you very much great job

[@infinitemonkey917]

Good video. I like the potentially more practical use case for rockets.

[@jacobseierpetersen5894]

Hi Fraser Thank you for at great channel. At the moment it's one of my favorits:-). I liked your short story very much. Best regards Jacob

[@zimmy1958]

loved it.

[@MeissnerEffect]

I loved this single story ‘dive’ into reactor ignition. It’s a lovely accompaniment to the ‘bite-sized’ news updates. May I wish everyone who helps out making Universe Today a must-watch for empirical space news. And a big hello to all the people watching who add their constructive comments, happy holidays all! 😊

[@LarsRyeJeppesen]

Very informative

[@TimeLordMe3rd]

Totes enjoy and learn from you and your channel. Especially, my favorite about electromagnetic sails (and related playlists).

[@jimcabezola3051]

I'm pleased that you're excited about this, too. As I said earlier, it's been a Promethean week. This achievement is a good sign that all the world is not slaving away in vain. It can be done...kinda. I wonder what happened when the first hominids tried to make and control fire. Hope they didn't take out a whole forest, lol. Mahalo for the needed clarity; we burned an island the first time we tried fusion, lol.

[@cm9748]

Only 20 more Years AWAY !! YAYYY

[@frasercain]

I said 49 years away, but I guess you can be optimistic.

[@cm9748]

@@frasercain haa ... nice ;) well played

[@Morganstein-Railroad]

Congratulations to the scientists envolved. Step one towards the nesxt stage of energy production complete!

[@frasercain]

It's still a long road ahead, but a promising first step.

[@Morganstein-Railroad]

@@frasercain Well, I know, but lots of people thought Fusion wasn't possible - know with this first step, theyve at least proved them wrong,. Things can only get better, to quote Brian Cox.

[@alan2here]

This episode is good :)

[@marknovak6498]

We have a successful experiment and decades more research is needed.

[@rocko9451]

We achieved fusion power, time to get the welcome mat ready for when the Vulcan's arrive and first contact.

[@ronaldrey8474]

YES... I enjoyed a single objective or story & I now subscribed. May I ask a question - Is the radiation equal or more ? And how about radiation with the European new pwr plant you mentioned? Same/worse t. y.

[@davidchannon6004]

QUESTION SUBMISSION 3: Hi Fraser. If we were optimising for speed and using current technology and current orbital mechanics (12 months window), what would be the theoretical top speed that we could propel a Voyager sized craft into deep space? Are the Voyager craft close to the speed limit at around 17 km/s or can we go faster?

[@marksusskind1260]

Let's get back to the fusion ASAP in 2023!

[@rayreynolds7066]

Hi I really like this more in depth coverage of a topic. ❓how would your view of the Fermi paradox be altered if the perseverance samples when analysed showed signs of ancient simple life not related to earth life❓love the content !Regards

[@frasercain]

If Perseverance found evidence of life, that would be mind bending, and it would be terrifying. It would mean the Great Filter is still ahead of us... yikes!

[@Nk36745]

I like this individual more in depth video type

[@doncarlodivargas5497]

Yes! More topics like this, different (fusion) technologies for example, and cold fusion, even if that doesn't work it is still interesting, and what about the Webb telescope that find bunches of new galaxies, what does that tell us? There can be too many galaxies also, can it not?

[@DexLuther]

Once ignition is achieved, wouldn't the question be about building the chain reaction? I mean once you've poured a ton of energy into the system to produce ignition, I imagine the idea would be to channel that energy into the next reaction and have enough energy to keep power the next cycle while being able to extract enough energy to power something else. Kinda like using Jumper cables to start a car with a dead battery. Once the engine is running, you can remove the jumper cables, and the system should power itself as long as there's fuel. I guess that's where the engineering comes in to find a way to insert fuel to keep it going.

[@monkeywrench1951]

Helion (private company) has a variation in which they compress two plasma toruses inside a piston. They also have a solution to the starting deuterium and tritium issue.

[@frasercain]

Yeah, I saw the Real Engineering video about their work. I look forward to their upcoming trials.

[@jrjankowski2224]

Afternoon Fraser, you should have a look at what Helion is doing with their work on a clean energy. Watch "A New Way to Achieve Nuclear Fusion: Helion". You'll enjoy this and it answers some of your questions. Best wishes.

[@karlostj4683]

"*but there's a catch" Indeed. There always is.

[@jaybruce593]

Thoroughly enjoying this new content direction and the news letter, but as a fellow grey beard, it was funny to see Fraser cite the use of this as a system for spacecraft, as I remember reading about similar fusion powered spacecraft at least twenty years in Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy.

[@PennyAfNorberg]

One good thing: we might know more about the pressure and temperature needed for other fusion processes.

[@gehrigornelas6317]

Thank you for putting it into context, explaining both the accomplishment and the limitations. But most of all thank you for making it clear that this technology will not be ready to help us decarbonize in time to fight climate change.

[@theunnies]

Good . For producing the laser what's the amount of

[@gazzacroy]

very interesting. we got to do some thing and this sort of tec is the only way i can see??

[@braggarmybrat]

Thanks Fraser! This was indeed good news, now we just need some of our kids to go into STEM so they and we can reach that 49-year goal. Oh, and warp drive. 😁

[@paulmichaelfreedman8334]

I don't see this becoming feasible without hybridizing with another fusion technique. If we can make a reliable and efficient muon source, could muon catalyzed fusion combined with cavitation be a possible solution?

[@redbaronsnoopy2346]

It's a Star in a bottle, honestly at great insight to what we are chasing would be to watch the Keanu Reeves movie 'Chain Reaction'. As the controlling resonance thereby perpetuating the magnetic bottle that would contain and compress(fuse) the fuels and allow for the precipitates(heavy metal & exotic matter) to be extracted and controlled. Yes, I have some insight, as I have worked on this project for decades. It will occur suddenly as the technology keep progressing, time, always more time, hopefully in my lifetime so I may see it . . .

[@jokers7890]

Stop and use your brain to think about what you just said. 'star in a bottle'....this is impossible. For a star to work, it must have a huge mass which will never work at a small scale. The idea of nuclear fusion as a energy producer on Earth will never happen, this is a fantasy not based on science used by capitalists to fool the public on one of the biggest problems of the capitalist system, unplanned fossil fuel abuse. Geo-thermal energy is the only sustainable energy source on Earth but capitalism will never be able to unleash it. This video is passively promoting some of the lies around this fusion fantasy. But at least he does criticize the fantasy on some levels. "one day it might be the case"......WRONG.

[@edcar61]

Finely someone to to explaining the fusion breakthrough correctly. It’s more political at the moment. We are still many decades away from fusion being useful if every. Still it’s great new and hopefully breakthroughs come a little quicker.

[@MonCappy]

I think the fact that this happened is historic. Scientists managed a net gain of energy for the very first time, changing the question from if practical fusion energy could be achieved to when. This is massive. Now scientists finally have a pathway to practical fusion. This is certainly a baby step and we have kilometers to go before we reach our goal, but now it is finally something that has become a question of engineering and not one of plausibility.

[@rJaune]

The Sun cheats by being huge and using quantum tunneling. So, that makes this even more impressive. Hopefully, the Tokamaks will reach this level soon. Thanks, Fraser!

[@jokers7890]

No the sun does not cheat, there is not cheating. The sun FUNCTIONS in reality and only produces energy due to its huge mass. Without this mass, fusion will never work to produce energy. This is very basic science.