Brandon Sorbom Co-Founder of Commonwealth Fusion: How Close Are We to Limitless Energy?

A sun we can switch on. Enough fuel for a billion years. How close are we to turning that promise into electricity? **Brandon Sorbom, cofounder and Chief Science Officer of Commonwealth Fusion Systems,** joins Philip Meissner to explain why fusion is getting closer and what it will take to bring it to the power grid. **In this episode, discover:** - How stronger magnets could unlock practical fusion power. - Where the SPARC demonstration machine stands and what the team is targeting for 2027. - How fusion differs from nuclear fission in safety and radioactive waste. - Why fusion could provide continuous power alongside solar and wind. - How abundant energy could transform everything from AI data centers to clean water production. Watch to learn what’s already working, what remains difficult, and how close we are to building a sun on Earth. **Timestamps**: 00:00 Introduction 00:39 Bringing the Sun’s Power to Earth 02:24 Why Fusion Is Closer Than Ever 04:40 The Magnets Making Fusion Possible 07:02 Building Magnets for a Fusion Plant 09:05 Turning Skepticism into Progress 10:09 SPARC’s Road to 2027 12:24 Putting the Fusion Machine Together 13:40 Fusion vs. Fission Explained 16:09 Clean Power Around the Clock 17:23 Beyond AI Data Centers 18:42 Rethinking Energy Security 20:16 From MIT Research to a $4 Billion Company 21:38 The Team Behind Fusion 23:13 Choosing Work That Matters 24:04 Why Hardware Innovation Is Back 25:42 Reasons to Be Optimistic **Connect with** **Brandon Sorbom :** LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sorbom What’s Next is a podcast exploring how technology, innovation, and global systems are shaping the future. Hosted by Philip Meissner, each episode features conversations with global leaders, builders, and thinkers working at the forefront of change. **🔗 Connect with Philip Meissner:** https://www.philipmeissner.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmeissner/ **🎧 Listen on:** **Spotify:** https://open.spotify.com/show/1KFVD3ozuUQiQozO381J5C?si=e2eb5967f84648e8 **Apple Podcasts:** https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-next-with-philip-meissner/id1793306908 **"What’s Next with Philip Meissner"** A journey through our future life and work, and the place to discover your next favorite strategy and innovation. With global perspectives and fresh thinking, brought to you by some of the most exciting thinkers, builders, and leaders across the globe. Philip Meissner hosts fantastic guests and speakers, who share their journeys and knowledge in the most authentic and deep-dive style – to guide you through our world of tomorrow. From economy to science, from tech policy to AI in a fast-changing world. Subscribe right now wherever you get your podcast! Subscribe for more conversations on AI, emerging technologies, and global leadership. #FusionEnergy #NuclearFusion #CleanEnergy #BrandonSorbom #CommonwealthFusionSystems #SPARC #FusionPower #EnergyInnovation #MIT #Tokamak #SuperconductingMagnets #EnergySecurity #CleanTechnology #EnergyFuture #Science * * * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.