The Star Builders: Nuclear Fusion and the Race to Power the Planet

Really fascinating insight into the progress that has been made in nuclear fusion power, making use of really interesting case studies. If, like me, you are a complete nuclear fusion novice you do need to concentrate hard but the author explains things clearly. I learnt a lot!

An informative discussion of the science, engineering and economics of fusion electricity generation. The author is a plasma physicist, so he knows his subject. However, the writing style is quite accessible, perhaps even journalistic at times. The reader gets a flavour of the international quest to be first in the design of a working commercial fusion reactor.The book would probably have benefited from an opening ‘primer’ on nuclear fusion, which more experienced fusion readers could have skipped over. However, more experienced fusion readers would probably not be reading this type of ‘popular science’ book. A primer would definitely have helped the general reader.The best and most eye-opening section in the book was perhaps the examination of fusion economics. It would seem that fission energy offers the best guide to fusion energy costs (despite substantial differences, especially in waste treatment and decommissioning). Certainly, fusion will be more expensive than many conventional renewable energy sources, especially wind and solar. Therefore, fusion energy is unlikely to replace other forms of electricity production this century. Its role will be to supplement these sources with a reliable base load.

Fusion is famously the world-changing technology that will be here in the next twenty years, as researchers have been saying for nearly seven decades. Formerly the only players were huge, often multinational institutions, but now there are suddenly smaller private tech outfits that all think they are in with a chance of realising that a lot sooner. That’s why this book is so timely.Turrell has written a terrific book that is easy to read while providing the footnotes that ensure this plasma physicist turned data scientist proves he knows his stuff. And plasma – the fourth state of nature where atoms have been ripped apart into ions and electrons – is what this is all about. The starting point is how do you contain a plasma at hundreds of millions of degrees (much hotter than the Sun’s core, but equally dense) without being able to rely on gravity (which is what stars do) or any physical container. This is tough science – but maybe made easier by what we can now do with computer modelling of the potentially chaotic plasma dynamics. Having done that, can you get more energy out than you put in? Let alone harness that energy to make electricity.Turrell lucidly explains the physics and the problems and runs through potential solutions, while explaining why this matters if we crack it (saving the world). But why read it now? Because the game has changed. Read this book for the insight into the new science of the researchers and tech start-ups that might just deliver the result.

For anybody looking for solutions in the face of systemic challenges from climate change and bio-diversity collapse then this book offers a ray of hope. The author captures the human spirit of the pioneers striving to make Fusion a reality on earth and the significant scientific, engineering and organisational hurdles that need to be cleared.

Very interesting, informative and easy to digest. An exciting read and also very well written for people who may not be an expert in the field. I have recommended this book to others. 5 stats

A rare story about the best of human ingenuity and possibly the most important invention since the wheel. Brilliantly written to pull out the most important challenges and impacts of this technology coming into being. You also don't need to have a PhD in order to follow the content.Fingers crossed we don't all have to wait another 30 years to see real results from the fusion projects!

You could sum up this book as "a review of the state of the art of fusion for the interested but not overly technical". If you can remember some of your O level / GCSE physics (age 16 education for non UK readers) you'll be fine.The author describes where the two main approaches to fusion, inertial and magnetic confinement respectively, have got to and also gives a brief summary of some of the newer entrants in the field. Understandably there is not much detail about the latter since most are privately funded and hence very coy about their technology, which is frustrating but understandable. The author is clearly impressed by the optimism of these latter-day fusion entrepreneurs while at the same time maintaining a healthy scepticism about their claims.The book finishes with some predictions about the rate of future progress towards the Holy Grail of self-sustaining fusion, and also gives a timely warning that getting the physics to work is - to be Churchillian - only the end of the beginning. It explains that while fusion may not produce anything like the horrible waste products of fission, and while it is impossible for a fusion reactor to run away or melt down, nevertheless it is still an intensely radioactive process and the technical challenges of building a working power station are immense.The book is well written and organised, and it explains a complex topic well. However it is clear that the author has been told by his publisher that every equation will halve sales, so there aren't any. This leaves him trying to describe nuclear physics in words, which he does really quite successfully, but I can't help feeling that perhaps the odd diagram might have helped.Less forgivably there are also no diagrams or pictures of the machines themselves. Having worked as a mechanical engineer on the Joint European Torus (JET), which features heavily in this book, I know what it looks like and (mechanically at least) how it works. However I can't help feeling that some readers trying to puzzle out how Tokamak and its magnetic fields work may be struggling a bit to understand it.My biggest disappointment was the overall lack of technical detail. I would have liked more information throughout the book, but then that's a typical engineer speaking and perhaps I am being unreasonable. Nevertheless if you have a current interest in fusion you probably won't learn much from this book, and I find that sad. However if it gets you interested then that's great.Oh, and finally that title: "star builders". Yuk! I can only assume the publisher held a gun to the author's head since whatever else they are doing it is not building stars.

Loved it.

I don't regret having bought the book but it could probably have been condensed into a long magazine article. I would have appreciated much more technical or scientific detail.

Excelente Cumprimento do prazo de entrega

I'm honest, I don't write very often a review for a book, well, I can fairly say that I don't write any review at all but I'm quite an avid reader.This is such a great book that I need to tell that to anyone interested in it, I have to admit that my physics knowledge is relegated to high school something like 20 years ago, because my career has taken a quite different path, so before reading Dr.Turrell all I had was a very eager desire to learn something about this relatively new technology and this book delivered all the way, is so well written and engaging that just tells you very difficult concept in such an easy manner, it's a pleasure to read and at the end you really feel enriched. Recommended.

Important book at a time we face a huge transition in how the world powers itself