The Star Builders: Nuclear Fusion and the Race to Power the Planet

Product Description From a young, award-winning scientist, a thoughtful and illuminating (Nature) look at one of the most compelling and historic turning points of our time-the race to harness the power of the stars and produce controlled fusion, creating a practically unlimited supply of clean energy.The most important energy-making process in the universe takes place inside stars. The ability to duplicate that process in a lab, once thought impossible, may now be closer than we think. Today, teams of scientists around the world are being assembled by the boldest entrepreneurs, big business, and governments to solve what is the most difficult technological challenge humanity has ever faced: building the equivalent of a star on earth. If their plans to capture star power are successful, they will unlock thousands, potentially millions, of years of clean, carbon-free energy.Not only would controlled nuclear fusion help solve the climate crisis, it could also make other highly desired technological ambitions possible-like journeying to the stars. Given the rising alarm over deterioration of the environment, and the strides being made in laser and magnetic field technology, powerful momentum is gathering behind fusion and the possibilities it offers.InThe Star Builders, award-winning young plasma physicist Arthur Turrell offers an optimistic outlook for the future of fusion power and is adamant about the need to invest in it (The New York Times). Turrell describes fascinating star machines with ten times as many parts as the NASA Space Shuttle, and structures that extend over 400 acres in an accessible and entertaining account, spotlighting the individuals, firms, and institutions racing for the finish line: science-minded entrepreneurs like Jeff Bezos and Peter Thiel, companies like Goldman Sachs and Google, universities like Oxford and MIT, and virtually every rich nation.Its an exciting and game-changing international quest that will make all of us winners. Review Every crisis has its possible miracle cure. And the ultimate cure for our energy woes would be nuclear fusion, the same process that makes stars shine.In his new book the plasma physicist and science writer Arthur Turrell [writes of] star builders, the researchers and engineers who want to create a small star on Earth.While Turrell withholds judgment on which of the different fusion technologies might be most promising, he freely offers an optimistic outlook for the future of fusion power and is adamant about the need to invest in it. -New York TimesThoughtful and illuminating.In the end,The Star Buildersis realistic and positive-an interesting snapshot of the current situation and key players. -NatureAn expert account of the immense international research effort to develop practical nuclear fusion...Important, high-quality popular science. -Kirkus ReviewsIn an impressively reported debut, plasma physicist Turrell surveys the global development of nuclear fusion as an energy source Readers will find plenty of answers-and optimism-about the future of fusion here.-Publishers WeeklyA gobsmackingly good read. Turrells portraits of the undaunted star-building scientists who are trying to make fusion a reality are not just compelling but, dare I say it,fun. I learned a lot by reading this book. You will, too. -Robert Bryce, author ofA Question of Power: Electricity and the Wealth of NationsVisionary thinkers have sketched a future of sustainable abundance based on skillful use of nuclear fusion, the process that powers the stars. Can we get there? How? When? TheStar Builderssurveys this vibrant frontier of science and technology clearly and realistically. It brings a timely, hopeful message. -Frank Wilczek, Winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics and author ofFundamentals: TenKeys to RealityWhat I love about this book is how easily Turrell forgives us for having forgotten the