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The Star Builders

Nuclear Fusion and the Race to Power the Planet

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The Star Builders

By: Arthur Turrell
Narrated by: Arthur Turrell
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About this listen

Is it possible to build a star on Earth?

When asked what problem he hoped scientists will have solved by the end of the century, Professor Stephen Hawking replied, 'I would like nuclear fusion to become a practical power source. It would provide an inexhaustible supply of energy, without pollution or global warming.' But what is nuclear fusion, and could it really be the answer to the climate emergency? Fusion exists already in the stars that fill our universe with light, but can we harness that power here on Earth? This is the question The Star Builders seeks to answer.

In his compelling new book, Dr Arthur Turrell makes the case for cutting-edge new techniques in nuclear energy—innovations that would allow us to recreate the power of the stars on our own planet. Filled with the remarkable stories of the scientists and entrepreneurs who have dedicated their lives to a seemingly impossible dream, The Star Builders is an unmissable insight into the future of life—and space—on our planet.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Arthur Turrell (P)2021 Orion Publishing Group Engineering Environment Physics Science Solar System Black Hole

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All stars
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Good summary - but already a bit stale. A lot has happened since this writing. They should have gotten a professional narrator, the author himself isn’t great.

Good summary

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This book should be read by every world leader and by everyone with an interest in solving the climate emergency. It's a great introduction both for the lay person and those with a background in physics.

Excellent introduction to controlled fusion

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This is a fascinating window into the latest breakthroughs in controlled nuclear fusion technology. The author narrates his new book with clarity and enthusiasm and it's hard not to get swept away with thoughts of massive lasers, rings of plasma (hotter than the sun) and interstellar spaceships.

Turrell has a mastery of the subject matter that only an insider, with years of experience, could have built up. His move into economics research in recent years, however, lets him describe the technologies as an outsider, bringing other outsiders (the reader) along for the ride.

The science involved is presented accessibly enough that anybody with a high school level education (or maybe not even that) should be able to follow it. In addition to the science, Turrell relates the thoughts and anecdotes of industry insiders about the latest advances and likely directions that nuclear fusion technology might take, drawing on some enviable contacts among the top scientists and decision makers that are driving forward big money fusion energy projects right now.

I hope that in a few years I'll be able to download Turrell's next book on this subject, to find out how the star-builders surmount the remaining technical hurdles and deliver fusion power to the world.

A very good listen.

A fun, enthusiastic introduction to fusion power

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I felt like a book on such a technical subject could be very dry and dull. But the writer does a good job of keeping it light, accessible and engaging throught.

Well paced and fascinating.

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Interesting book to start understanding fusion energy. Explained with understandable concepts so it's accessible for most people. Gives a status of development but also a forecast for the future. Hopefully just around the corner.

Fusion energy for starters

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