Can Fusion Power Save Us—or Is It Just Another Silicon Valley Gamble?
Is Silicon Valley just throwing money at another tech fantasy, or could fusion power finally deliver on the promise of limitless, clean energy? This audacious pursuit is raising big questions about science, society, and the long-term vision for our planet.
Eric Lander, celebrated geneticist and former U.S. science advisor, is betting on fusion power to reshape the energy landscape with Pacific Fusion. This ambitious venture, backed by major Silicon Valley investors, aims to develop a full-scale fusion demonstration by the early 2030s.
The plan? Harness pulsed magnetic fusion, a process to magnetically “squeeze” deuterium-tritium fuel pellets, potentially unlocking boundless, clean energy. With VC commitments exceeding $900 million and names like Schmidt and Hoffman onboard, Pacific Fusion claims breakthroughs are within reach — but success is far from guaranteed. After all, fusion’s “next decade” timeline is nothing new.
- Lander’s Pacific Fusion targets 2030s for demo
- Pulsed magnetic fusion underpins their approach
- Heavy Silicon Valley investment rounds totaling $900M
If Pacific Fusion delivers, it could revolutionize energy and even feed the AI industry’s power appetite. But, can society wait another decade, or do we need faster, more grounded solutions?
Read the full article on Wired.
----
💡 If you enjoyed this content, be sure to download my new app for a unique experience beyond your traditional newsletter.
This is one of many short posts I share daily on my app, and you can have real-time insights, recommendations and conversations with my digital twin via text, audio or video in 28 languages! Go to my PWA at app.thedigitalspeaker.com and sign up to take our connection to the next level! 🚀