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    He’s 32, has 55 employees, and is building a nuclear fusion reactor in Wellington
    Futurology

    He’s 32, has 55 employees, and is building a nuclear fusion reactor in Wellington

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    1. Gari_305 on

      From the article

      The company’s founder and CEO is 32-year-old Ratu Mataira and he’s been obsessed with science since he was a kid.

      “I wanted to be a scientist and was obsessed with how the world worked. It would eventually turn into physics with a brief foray into chemistry,” he says.

      Also from the article

      “OpenStar successfully turning on Junior has shown the world that New Zealand can have a fusion company. If we manage to build the next machine here in New Zealand, we will officially have a fusion industry,” he says.

      “That will be a significant enough project that will pull in other companies, there will be upskilling of the industry around us to make that a reality.

      “And as a patriot, let’s say I’m very keen for that to happen in New Zealand.”

      Mataira’s time frame is mind-boggling.

      He wants a fusion power plant up and running by the early 2030s.

    2. AnthropoidCompatriot on

      Nothing about where in the heck he got the funding? 

      You don’t start a fusion energy company just because you have a degree and the knowhow.

      You also need the capital and the knowwho.

    3. Masterventure on

      No he won’t.

      I don’t have to even read this shit anymore. Yeah some stupid ass start up is going to build a working fusion reactor. Fat chance. 

      Why is the US so in love with scams that kill people?

    4. Canuck-overseas on

      Looks like a nice science fair project. China will have a commercial fusion reactor first.

    5. imaginary_num6er on

      Next his competitor is going to claim he built it in his cave with a box of scraps.

    6. Drone314 on

      “My undergraduate is in physics and economics and my PhD is in superconductivity physics.”

      Go for it my dude and good luck!

      Tech: Levitated Dipole Reactor

    7. BoDaBasilisk on

      I don’t think hes going to outpace the other huge projects but I guess it would be cool if I was wrong