{"podcast":{"title":"Earthlings 2.0 Podcast","slug":"earthlings-2-0-podcast-4600078","podcast_index_feed_id":4600078,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/earthlings-podcast/","website_url":"https://earthlingspodcast.com","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/9634c355-9fe4-4214-93e5-7bb3143ec38a/4WlaceVSNYbn5pHhDYQz2w3E.jpg","author":"Lisa Ann Pinkerton","episode_count":177,"summary":"The Earthlings Podcast takes a look at the big issues facing humanity in the early 21st century and our relationship to our environment, technology, and each other. Each episode, award-winning journalist, and former NPR reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton hosts experts, scientists, and leaders working to solve the world’s biggest challenges. Together, they cover wide-ranging topics including environmental solutions, emerging technologies, what the future might look like, and more. Support us on Patreon and receive exclusive content and benefits.","last_synced_at":"2026-09-09T04:30:47.734705+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/earthlings-2-0-podcast-4600078"},"episode":{"title":"#176: Turning a Can of Fuel Into a Fusion Star with Pacific Fusion","slug":"176-turning-a-can-of-fuel-into-a-fusion-star-with-pacific-fusion","published_at":"2026-09-01T07:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/earthlings-2-0-podcast-4600078/176-turning-a-can-of-fuel-into-a-fusion-star-with-pacific-fusion","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/earthlings-2-0-podcast-4600078","url":"https://resourcelabs.co/earthlings-episodes/176-turning-a-can-of-fuel-into-a-fusion-star-with-pacific-fusion","audio_url":"https://op3.dev/e/episodes.captivate.fm/episode/fb4209a1-d9aa-4166-b2b3-4641af603b65.mp3","summary":"In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Will Regan, Founder and Chief Scientist of Pacific Fusion, about how the company is developing pulser-driven inertial fusion for eventual commercial deployment. Will breaks down how the system works, the scientific breakthroughs that have changed the outlook for commercial fusion, and why Pacific Fusion believes modularity and mass manufacturing could provide a path toward reliable fusion power plants. He also discusses the company's recent prototype milestones, plans to demonstrate net energy gain by 2030, fusion's regulatory and safety advantages, and what the next decade could hold for fusion energy on Earth and potentially in space. Check out our previous episodes on fusion: #115 - Fusion’s Magnetic Mirror Magic for a Low-Carbon Energy Future with Realta Fusion #26 - The Forever Fuel in Nuclear Fusion Key Points: Pacific Fusion is using pulsed power to create star-like conditions from a tiny can of fuel – The company's pulser-driven inertial fusion system uses a powerful pulse of electricity to compress a tiny amount of fuel, creating the conditions needed for fusion. Modularity could be key to making fusion power reliable and scalable – Pacific Fusion recently demonstrated a one-third-scale version of its pulser module and is now developing a full-scale unit. Pacific Fusion is targeting net energy gain by 2030 and commercial power plants in the 2030s – The company plans to break ground on a facility for its demonstration system and is targeting system-level net energy gain by 2030, followed by a first power plant in the mid-2030s. Will Regan, Founder and Chief Scientist of Pacific Fusion LinkedIn Pacific Fusion LinkedIn Pacific Fusion’s technology Lisa Ann Pinkerton , Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communicati…","meta_description":"In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we speak with Will Regan, Founder and Chief Scientist of Pacific Fusion, about how the company is developing pulser-dri…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2021,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/earthlings-2-0-podcast-4600078/episodes/176-turning-a-can-of-fuel-into-a-fusion-star-with-pacific-fusion/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/earthlings-2-0-podcast-4600078/176-turning-a-can-of-fuel-into-a-fusion-star-with-pacific-fusion.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}