September 6, 2013

Must See Video: 19 Year Old Prodigy Re-imagines Fusion Technology

Prodigy Taylor Wilson decided to tackle the problem of nuclear fusion technology, which he says is stuck in the 1950s.

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Taylor Wilson was restless in school so he built his first nuclear reactor at age 14. But Taylor didn’t stop there. He wanted to do something novel, and so Taylor, now a Thiel Fellow, decided to tackle the problem of nuclear fusion technology, which he says is stuck in the 1950s.

In the video below, courtesy of NBC News, you will see Taylor’s design for mini-reactors that he claims will be safe from the threat of meltdowns.

Watch here:

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Multiple country flags on poles against a clear blue sky, representing international diversity and unity.

The Present

From global to planetary: Is new governance needed in a post-Holocene world?

The nation-state had a good run, but its usefulness may have come to an end.

Portrait of a smiling man in front of a background featuring chemical structures and molecular models in green and blue hues.

The Present

Inside the battle for FDA approval of MDMA therapy

MAPS founder Rick Doblin speaks to Big Think about the FDA’s rejection of MDMA therapy and the future of psychedelic treatments.

Fifteen colorful emoji faces on a textured background, each capturing different moods like joy, anger, sadness, and surprise.

Business

Heidegger’s “mood theory” explains why you do anything at all

You’re a moody person. You have to be — because understanding moods philosophically can be crucial to your work-life.

A bear attempting to catch a jumping fish near a waterfall.

Nature’s “perfect balance” is a mystery scientists are trying to decode

“While society’s been humming along and enjoying all these advances in agriculture and medicine, in the last 50 or 60 years, ecologists have learned a lot about how nature works. I’ve codified these into a set of rules called the ‘Serengeti Rules.’”

Starts With A Bang

Ask Ethan: Could SETI detect a “twin” of Earth?

Earth is actively broadcasting and actively searching for intelligent civilizations. But could our technology even detect ourselves?

Up Next

Why Effective Time Management Needs Albert Einstein

Harnessing relativity, technology can even give us the time to live.