Lex Fridman Podcast #485 · November 17, 2025 · 3h 30m

Nuclear Fusion, Plasma Physics, and the Future of Energy

David Kirtley — CEO of Helion Energy. Working on commercial nuclear fusion — the technology that could provide unlimited clean energy if it actually works. The physics, the engineering challenges, and why 'fusion is always 30 years away' might finally be wrong.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

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Fusion is no longer 30 years away — the engineering is real

Kirtley: the physics of fusion has been proven for decades. The remaining challenge is engineering, not science. Helion's approach may break through within 5 years.

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