Neil deGrasse Tyson
Neil deGrasse Tyson
@StarTalk·5.4M subscribers·1.8K videos

How the NIF Did It: Fusion Ignition with NIF Laser Scientist

Posted

January 27, 2023

Views

208,357

Likes

6,636

Comments

569

Engagement

3.46%

Search the Record

Indexed

Every word spoken in this episode is indexed. Type any phrase to jump straight to the moment it was said.

Type any word or phrase that may have been spoken. Click a result to seek the player to that exact moment.

Try a name, a topic, or a quoted line

Chapters

YouTube Description

as posted by the channel

How did we achieve nuclear fusion? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice learn about human-made thermonuclear fusion, the world’s most powerful lasers, and harnessing nuclear power with operations manager of The National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Labs, Bruno Van Wonterghem.

Can we make fusion happen with less than 300 million jules? Find out about the NIF and the work being done in nuclear energy. We discuss quantum tunneling in the sun and the energy needed to overcome repulsive forces. Is our fusion hotter than the sun?

What are deuterium and tritium? Discover helium 3 and heavy hydrogen. What is the difference between a powerpoint laser and the world’s most powerful fusion lasers? Learn about the physics of lasers and what wavelength of laser is best for nuclear fusion.

Can we make our most advanced lasers better? We explain what plasma is and whether fusion will be scalable. Will we one day have nuclear fusion power stations or portable fusion reactors attached to our cars? What is in store for the future of Lawrence Livermore National Labs? How can fusion be improved?

Thanks to our Patrons Gavin Mallow, Willest74, Isaac Labbe, Allen, and Beefcake for supporting us this week.

NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free.

About the prints that flank Neil in this video:

"Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver.

Get the NEW Cosmic Queries book (5/5 ⭐s on Amazon!)

Support us on Patreon

FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk:

About StarTalk:

Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!

#StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

Guests & Subjects Covered

How the NIF Did ItChuck NiceThe National Ignition FacilityNOTE StarTalk PatronsBlack SwanWhite SwanCoast SalishJane Kwatleematt Marston For

Sentinel Indexing in Progress

Metadata and chapters are available. Claim extraction for this episode is pending.

All video content is delivered via YouTube embedded players in accordance with the YouTube Terms of Service. Sentinel provides research tools that promote discovery and accountability across political media.

How the NIF Did It: Fusion Ignition with NIF Laser Scientist · Neil deGrasse Tyson · Sentinel