This Nuclear Fusion Startup Is a Strong Newcomer

A new nuclear fusion startup in German is working on a "quasi-isodynamic stellarator". I had a look at what that means and think it's a pretty cool approach that is among the most solid, low-risk ideas in nuclear fusion at the moment. Doesn't mean it will work, but definitely one to have an eye on!

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#science #sciencenews #technews #technology

[wingflanagan]

If you call something a "stellarator" it HAS to work. The word is just too cool.

[SabineHossenfelder]

Sorry for the double-post, I wanted to fix the issue with the 750 million tons... Thanks for spotting this!

[skipperg]

As somebody said, the issue with fusion reactors is that you need to create the coldest place in the universe and the hottest place in the universe and put them ~1meter apart from each other.
Making a "star in jar" is not enough to get energy out of the device, we need "supernova in a jar".

[perryallan]

I was involved in the building of the UW-Madison HSX Stellerator which predated the W-7 (and the W-7 used a lot of the information on how the HSX actually functioned as a basis for their design).

Stellarators have huge advantages over a tokamaxs. I was told by the physicist that if a tokamax ever reaches steady state that it will melt as it's theoretically impossible to cool that shape faster than it would generate heat. As such it's not suitable for more than pulse power generation.

A stellarator in theory can be cooled faster than it generates heat from fusion - and are thus suitable for steady power production in the future.

I read an article in the last few weeks that there is also a fusion startup company in Wisconsin which is based on stellarators and has key people from the UW-Madison HSX stellarator program involved - including names I recognize from working with them on the construction of the HSX stellarator.

I wish both stellarator startup companies the best...

[iveharzing]

It's important to note that W7-X already used this idea of Quasi-Isodynamicity, as that was one of the main improvements over W7-AS.
I'm guessing this startup just found a field geometry which is slightly more Quasi-Isodynamic.

[baomao]

1:40 “by the time ITER finishes its construction in 4500…” HILARIOUS!
I dabbled in magnetically-confined fusion at LBL back in the late 80’s.
It saddens me to still not see it any practical non-weapon. But i am happy i did not tie my career (ie family income) to it.

[jeffryborror]

I think Quasi Iso Dynamic has great marketing potential, Fusion sealed with a QIS.

[eljcd]

Thank you for the update on ITER, I'll put a note on my calendar😁

[aniksamiurrahman]

I was waiting for this. Since the day you covered multitude of fusion startups, I was waiting for some startup based on stellerator.

[gonzotown]

I'm not just here for the German accent. But I did enjoy that.

[arctic_haze]

So now we can have nuclear fusion power within 30 years! As always.

[jeffgriffith]

Mind blowing how quickly you're able to get these videos out.

[Deltarious]

I just wanted to comment that you and I have very similar outlooks on fusion as a whole, and even share about the same level of scepticism and guarded optimism about it so it's both extremely satisfying and very useful for me personally to have you keeping an eye on it and making the new developments so easy to understand

[yagodarkmoon]

I aways get an irrational desire to run up and get a doughnut every time someone shows a Tokamak reactor.

[howtoappearincompletely]

1:02–1:14
Thank you so much for that. You know us all too well! 😁

[cefoltran]

As someone with a Brazilian accent, I do enjoy you German accent! With more non native than native speakers around the world, one can say that to have an accent is the correct way to speak English.

[paulmichals]

Your "German access joke was good"; but the at 1:48/6:54 when you said "approximately forty-five hundred" I had to pause the video for a good three minutes while I laughed uncontrollably. I do greatly appreciate your sense of humor!!

[fabkury]

A Sabine video a day, keeps myths away.

[sntncc]

Thank you Sabine... Love getting the Latest Techno Knews. And in less than 10 minutes. Great Stuff!!

[LilRedDog]

"by the time they finish construction, approximately in the year 4500"

At least your honest and not 'just twenty years away'.