Major advance at fusion startup OpenStar in New Zealand; China passes fusion barrier; Japan-based Helical Fusion completes ‘one-of-a-kind’ coil manufacturing machine

About this episode

Carli Smith provides an update on significant advancements in fusion technology from around the world.

Carli Smith, fusion researcher at Kyoto Fusioneering, gives today's global fusion news update. Links to all of the stories mentioned are included below. 1. Fusion Startup Claims Major Advance in New Zealand Trial https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-17/nuclear-fusion-startup-claims-major-advance-in-new-zealand-trial 2. China has just broken a barrier that physicists believed to be unbreakable for decades, and its 150 million-degree artificial sun could bring us closer than ever to the energy of the stars https://www.ecoticias.com/en/china-has-just-broken-a-barrier-that-physicists-believed-to-be-unbreakable-for-decades-and-its-150-million-degree-artificial-sun-could-bring-us-closer-than-ever-to-the-energy-of-the-stars/27313/ 3. Japan fusion startup completes ‘one-of-a-kind’ coil manufacturing machine https://interestingengineering.com/energy/japan-fusion-startup-completes-coil-manufacturing 4. Proxima Fusion seeks €2 Billion to build a nuclear fusion test facility https://thenextweb.com/news/proxima-fusion-seeks-e2-billion-to-build-a-nuclear-fusion-test-facility Bonus: https://biztimes.com/new-wisconsin-consortium-will-grow-states-fusion-energy-ecosystem/…

People in this episode

Guest: Carli Smith

Topics covered

• fusion news
• fusion startups
• energy advancements
• nuclear fusion
• global updates

Keywords

• fusion
• OpenStar
• China
• Helical Fusion
• Proxima Fusion
• nuclear energy
• New Zealand
• Japan

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kyoto Fusioneering, OpenStar, China, Helical Fusion, Proxima Fusion, Fusion Industry Association

Places: New Zealand, Japan, Wisconsin

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