For a long time, nuclear fusion was viewed as a powerful, but unachievable, energy source, because the technological challenges were just too great. But recent advances, particularly in the development of powerful magnets, have reignited the race to create the world’s first efficient nuclear fusion powerplant. Claire Concannon visits one private company just outside Wellington who have joined the nuclear fusion effort, with a unique approach they believe might be the key.

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Guests:

• Dr Ratu Mataira, Founder and CEO of OpenStar Technologies
• Emily Hunter, Lead Engineer Cryogenics and Docking, OpenStar
• Thomas Berry, Deputy Direct of Plasma Science, OpenStar

Learn more:

• Read the article that accompanies this episode: Could a Kiwi company crack nuclear fusion?
• Kim Hill had a lengthy and fascinating interview with Dr Ratu Mataira in 2023 on RNZ’s Saturday Morning show. He also spoke with Alexa Cook on Morning Report in 2024 after OpenStar achieved ‘first plasma’.
• In 2023 Our Changing World played an episode of the ABC’s Strange Frontiers that went inside the nuclear fusion reactor ITER.
• Learn more about the simplest element, Hydrogen, from RNZ’s 2019 Elemental podcast.
• The Royal Society of New Zealand has a series of videos on Ernest Rutherford’s scientific discoveries including radioactive decay and half-life, and splitting the atom.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details