Particles of Thought

Fusion Energy is Coming

September 29, 2026·35 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Dennis Whyte studies the physics that powers every star in the universe, and he says it can power your house, too. Now the CEO of the UK’s Atomic Energy Authority and nuclear scientist at MIT, Dennis joins Hakeem to break down what fusion actually is, why it packs 10 million times the energy density of gasoline, and who is making the biggest investment in this massive energy field. Dennis unpacks the surprisingly direct link between a society's energy use and its economic prosperity, and reveals why fusion might change everything.Learn more about NOVA and visit our YouTube channel.--------------------------Guest Bio:Dennis Whyte is the Hitachi America Professor of Engineering at MIT and former director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center. He co-founded Commonwealth Fusion Systems, the MIT spinout building a compact fusion reactor using record-breaking superconducting magnets, and is now the CEO of the United Kingdom's Atomic Energy Authority.

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