Inside The World's Largest Nuclear Fusion Reactor

In an otherwise unremarkable-looking cluster of industrial buildings somewhere in the southeast of France, a team of engineers is attempting to tackle one of science’s most intractable problems – how to summon the power of a star.

If they pull it off, they’ll solve mankind’s greatest existential problems at a stroke, radically reducing harmful pollution and tackling runaway climate change. Still, that’s a big if. So join us today as we take a high-energy jaunt inside the world’s largest nuclear fusion reactor.

Last summer a critical milestone was reached on a science project so vast in scope it was initiated back in 1985. Because in July, 2020, technical construction finally began at the so-called ‘ITER’ or International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.

Learn more about the ITER Organization:

Inside The World's Largest Nuclear Fusion Reactor

SUGGEST A TOPIC

Imagery supplied via Getty Images

[jessk]

As someone who works on the 'boring maintenance' of fusion reactors I can tell you it's actually one of the most exciting and hardest technological challenges we will have to overcome!!

[GamerbyDesign]

25 Billion seems kinds of cheap for all the countries involved.

[shaununger]

One correction, a fission reaction in a nuclear reactor is not a “run away” reaction. It is controlled in various ways to prevent it from running away. A nuclear weapon relies on a run away reaction.

[danielsmirnov]

Star: *generates energy*
Humans: well shit that's pretty useful, lemme just *create a star then*

[wassimm]

From stones and spears to literally harnessing the power of stars. Humanity has come a long way

[fonerbalear]

"This is exactly the same chemical reaction that..." Fusion / Fission are not chemical reactions! They are nuclear reactions! In chemical reactions, the atoms involved do under no circumstances change!

[ManuelBasiri]

I've been following its development for over a decade now. Can't wait for our little star to be born.

[HarukiYamamoto]

"More power to them"

Agreed.

[rubenbraekman]

As an engineer in energy technology I cannot begin to imagine the logistics behind this build... let alone the science and engineering 🤯🤯

[mxp]

"Tony was able to build this in a cave"

[RockNCountry]

I mean, who doesn't love a good proof-of-concept experiment?

[nothing]

It's cheap considering what we spend on cigerrate every year..

[zacharythompson]

I can’t wait for this to become the a reality in the future

[mannylela]

Literally just wrote a paper a few days ago explaining why Nuclear Fusion technology is the solution to many of our problems. Nice vid!

[JJs_playground]

What an amazing project. The sheer size of this, is incredible.

[lucabortolotti]

I just want to thank you for making a video that is clear, has good visuals and gets through all important points. I love it

[sporkeh]

1:58 its not a runaway reaction in a nuclear fission power plant. that would be bad

[exaMAB]

1:59 in a reactor you have a sustained reaction not a "runaway" one. Or at least it's the goal.
2:20 fusion is not a chemical reaction
3:38 "sufficient heat and pressure in a vacuum"

[jonny.b]

I’m not a genious so I’m not gonna pretend to understand this but I really hope this works

[prinxebalor]

When I'm watching this i remember Spider-Man 2