Latest news with #CommonwealthFusionSystems
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
At the WBUR Festival, exploring the good and bad scenarios for Massachusetts' future
On Friday morning, I had the opportunity to help kick off the inaugural WBUR Festival in Boston with a panel on 'The Future of Innovation in Massachusetts.' My panelists: Katie Rae from Engine Ventures, an MIT-affiliated venture capital firm; Julie Kim, president of the U.S. Business Unit at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, now the largest biopharma employer in Massachusetts; and Avak Kahvejian, a general partner at Flagship Pioneering, an incubator of new companies in Cambridge. The group laid out some reasons for optimism about the future of innovation in our state, and also some reasons for concern. I asked what advice they would give to parents of children who are still in school today about the job market. Rae made the case that federal research funding cuts may paradoxically stimulate innovation by pushing academic researchers to create startups and commercialize their work on a faster time frame. In the short term, 'we might get more companies because of this moment than fewer,' she said. She cited Commonwealth Fusion Systems as a prime example — it emerged from an MIT lab that had lost its funding several years ago. 'They invented the company,' she said, instead of letting the science die on the vine. Read more: MassLive's 12 innovation leaders to watch in 2025 'It's not that I'm not upset about what's happening,' Rae said, 'but I do think really good things are going to come out of it.' But over the long term, she acknowledged, 'we're going to get fewer [companies] because there's less funding.' Kahvejian made the case that, while national and global pressures exist, Massachusetts remains extraordinarily well-equipped to generate breakthrough innovations. Flagship Pioneering, where he is a general partner, raised a $3.6 billion fund last year — its largest ever — to invent and launch new biotech companies. Kahvejian noted the state has shown resilience in the past: Many big names of the 20th century, such as Polaroid and Lotus Development Corp., have vanished, but new companies have emerged and grown. Rae offered hope that even in a divided Washington, supporting technology development in areas like advanced chips and energy production has bipartisan support. 'No matter what party you're in, you're going to want to fund the things that are fundamental to long-term economic prosperity and security,' she said. Rae was encouraged that Harvard University is standing up to pressure from the Trump administration, despite efforts to block the school's enrollment of international students and to eliminate essentially all federal funding of research there. Of Harvard President Alan Garber, she said: 'He's doing all those things and actually gaining a lot of support, right? He got a standing ovation at Harvard [graduation] yesterday.' Is there a way for Harvard to emerge victorious in the tangle with Trump and various federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security? 'I think Harvard is winning in a lot of ways,' Rae said. 'They're winning in different court battles. And I think long-term, they will prevail. There's great research there. It's an institution that the U.S. should be proud of, and is proud of, and produces so many of our great leaders ...' Kim sounded the alarm about China's scientific momentum. 'There are now 30% of the original publications [in the journal Science] coming from Chinese labs. The U.S. is now at 30%. The number is declining for the U.S., and it's increasing for China, so ... it's no longer a copycat economy.] There's innovation coming from that country,' she said. Kahvejian pointed to investor hesitation caused by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's inconsistency and volatile stock markets. With regards to the FDA drug approval process, he said that some biotech companies are reporting delays and 'strange responses' — but it's not universal. Kim and Kahvejian both expressed concern about a broader societal drift away from believing in science and supporting scientific research. Kahvejian said that echo chambers, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and misinformation are amplifying anti-science sentiment. 'We need to talk about how this stuff works,' he said, calling for better science education and public engagement. Rae echoed this, warning that resentment of elites and academia is feeding distrust and division. Kahvejian warned that the federal government's wavering stance on vaccines is damaging long-term public health preparedness and also investment in that industry sector. 'We've gone back the other way, almost worse than we were before [COVID], where vaccines are seen as a bad thing,' he said. Kim emphasized that the rapid pace of change makes it impossible to prescribe a single career path. Instead, she advises her own children to lead with intrinsic motivation: 'Pursue your passions,' she said. In her view, the key is not locking into one trajectory, but embracing a mindset of continuous learning and flexibility. In a world where entire industries can emerge or transform within 18 months, passion becomes a compass — guiding students to stay engaged and resilient as the landscape shifts. Kahvejian took that one step further, recommending that students follow not just their passion, but their curiosity, especially across disciplinary boundaries. 'Pursue your curiosity almost more than necessarily your passion,' he advised, warning against rigid academic silos. A student who majors in chemistry but ignores developments in AI or statistics risks becoming obsolete, he said. 'You will be pigeonholed, and you will end up marginalized.' Rae argued that foundational technical skills are as vital as ever. 'Don't be afraid of hard sciences. It is so fundamental to the future,' she said, referring to subjects like physics, biology and chemistry. At the same time, she encouraged students to embrace AI as a partner, not a threat: 'AI is your friend.' She also highlighted the importance of forming relationships with other curious, driven people. 'Cultivate friendships. Cultivate other curious people,' she said. Kim underscored that opportunity doesn't always require a four-year degree. She highlighted work with the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to create 'alternate pathways' into biotech and related fields for students pursuing vocational routes. 'There are a lot of things you can do in manufacturing, as well as on the administrative side — marketing, sales, etc.,' she said. Hidden in plain sight: Trump's enduring mark on Massachusetts Waymo's driverless taxis will face some unique obstacles in Boston MassLive's 12 innovation leaders to watch in 2025 New head of $100M AI hub says Massachusetts' strengths shouldn't be a 'best-kept secret' Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion - From moonshots to megawatts: Fusion's Cold War moment
When Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface in 1969, he declared it a 'giant leap for mankind.' This iconic moment, captured on grainy television screens worldwide, was not merely a triumph of human ingenuity but the result of intense geopolitical competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The rivalry, fueled by the existential anxieties of the Cold War, paradoxically propelled humanity forward. Today, we stand on the threshold of another transformative milestone — achieving practical nuclear fusion. And once again, competition, particularly among the U.S., China and Europe, may prove critical. Idealists often advocate global cooperation, envisioning pooled resources and collective progress. However, historical realities suggest that competitive pressure often yields faster, more substantial results. The sluggish progress of ITER, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, a collaboration of 35 nations including the U.S., China, Russia and several European countries, illustrates the inherent inefficiencies in sprawling multinational cooperation. Initially proposed in 1985, ITER's schedule has repeatedly slipped, with first plasma now anticipated no sooner than 2034. Development setbacks, bureaucratic inertia, conflicting national interests, inconsistent funding, and prolonged negotiations have significantly hindered progress. Contrast ITER's delays with the rapid advances of private and national fusion efforts. In the U.S., ventures such as Commonwealth Fusion Systems, driven by academic ingenuity and substantial private investments, have reached critical milestones. Commonwealth recently demonstrated a groundbreaking high-temperature superconducting magnet, a crucial advancement toward viable fusion energy. Today, more than 50 private startups globally have attracted more than $8 billion in investment, all racing to be the first to commercialize fusion. China, too, has aggressively advanced its fusion ambitions. Chinese researchers working on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak, popularly known as the 'artificial sun,' recently maintained plasma at over 120 million degrees Celsius for more than 400 seconds, a remarkable achievement that brings fusion significantly closer to practical application. These achievements make clear that when the stakes are high, competitive dynamics accelerate progress in ways international collaborations often cannot. Europe, often perceived as a collaborative partner in ITER, is now asserting itself as a formidable competitor in the fusion arena. The European Union has long supported fusion research through such initiatives as EUROfusion, which coordinates research across numerous European laboratories. Facilities such as the Joint European Torus in the UK and the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator in Germany have achieved significant milestones, demonstrating Europe's commitment to advancing fusion technology. Moreover, European startups such as Marvel Fusion in Germany have attracted substantial investments to develop innovative fusion approaches, signaling a shift towards a more competitive stance in the global fusion race. The historical parallels are instructive. The Cold War-era space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union resulted in unprecedented technological achievements. Beyond landing astronauts on the moon, this competition spurred developments in microelectronics, telecommunications, materials science and computing. The intense desire to outperform a geopolitical rival drove nations to push technological limits, delivering widespread benefits continuously. Could NASA have achieved the moon landing sooner had it been obligated to negotiate every decision with multiple international partners? The answer is unequivocally no. Multilateral consensus-building, however well-intentioned, tends to slow decision-making and dilute ambition. This lesson applies directly to the fusion race. With the accelerating impacts of climate change and global energy demands expected to rise by nearly 50 percent by 2050, fusion energy's promise — clean, abundant, and nearly limitless energy — is urgently needed. Fusion has the potential to decarbonize global energy grids, diminish geopolitical tensions over fossil fuels, and provide stable energy to developing nations. Of course, competition is not without critics. Some argue it leads to duplication, secrecy, or geopolitical tension. Yet history and current fusion progress show competition can sharpen focus, streamline resources, and accelerate timelines where cooperation might stall. Indeed, competition among the U.S., China and Europe is about more than mere technological superiority; it shapes geopolitical alliances, influences global economic dynamics, and may redefine leadership in the 21st century. Just as the U.S. emerged from the space race as a global technological and economic powerhouse, the victor in fusion development will likely dictate future standards for global energy and technology governance. Fusion technology inherently offers widespread humanitarian benefits. Even if initial successes are regionally concentrated, these breakthroughs will inevitably diffuse globally due to their immense economic and environmental advantages. Like space-derived innovations such as satellite technology and computing, fusion's benefits will become universally accessible. Climate negotiations at COP28 underscore the difficulties inherent in international cooperation. Achieving even minimal consensus on reducing fossil fuel production (The 'transition away from fossil fuels' agreement) was politically contentious and largely ineffective, delivering superficial agreements that catered more to geopolitical power dynamics than to any meaningful climate solutions. Such bureaucratic delays and diluted outcomes illustrate why humanity cannot afford to rely solely on multilateral cooperation. Ultimately, the fusion race is not merely a geopolitical contest; it is a vital competition for human survival and global prosperity. While competition may not always be harmonious or efficient, neither was the space race. Yet, the space race advanced humanity dramatically. Allowing the fusion race to unfold unhindered may again deliver swift, transformative solutions at a time when humanity urgently needs them. Our planet and our future depend on embracing this competitive drive. Oded Gour-Lavie is CEO and co-founder of nT-Tao, a compact fusion power company based in Israel. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
6 days ago
- Science
- The Hill
From moonshots to megawatts: Fusion's Cold War moment
When Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface in 1969, he declared it a 'giant leap for mankind.' This iconic moment, captured on grainy television screens worldwide, was not merely a triumph of human ingenuity but the result of intense geopolitical competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The rivalry, fueled by the existential anxieties of the Cold War, paradoxically propelled humanity forward. Today, we stand on the threshold of another transformative milestone — achieving practical nuclear fusion. And once again, competition, particularly among the U.S., China and Europe, may prove critical. Idealists often advocate global cooperation, envisioning pooled resources and collective progress. However, historical realities suggest that competitive pressure often yields faster, more substantial results. The sluggish progress of ITER, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, a collaboration of 35 nations including the U.S., China, Russia and several European countries, illustrates the inherent inefficiencies in sprawling multinational cooperation. Initially proposed in 1985, ITER's schedule has repeatedly slipped, with first plasma now anticipated no sooner than 2034. Development setbacks, bureaucratic inertia, conflicting national interests, inconsistent funding, and prolonged negotiations have significantly hindered progress. Contrast ITER's delays with the rapid advances of private and national fusion efforts. In the U.S., ventures such as Commonwealth Fusion Systems, driven by academic ingenuity and substantial private investments, have reached critical milestones. Commonwealth recently demonstrated a groundbreaking high-temperature superconducting magnet, a crucial advancement toward viable fusion energy. Today, more than 50 private startups globally have attracted more than $8 billion in investment, all racing to be the first to commercialize fusion. China, too, has aggressively advanced its fusion ambitions. Chinese researchers working on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak, popularly known as the 'artificial sun,' recently maintained plasma at over 120 million degrees Celsius for more than 400 seconds, a remarkable achievement that brings fusion significantly closer to practical application. These achievements make clear that when the stakes are high, competitive dynamics accelerate progress in ways international collaborations often cannot. Europe, often perceived as a collaborative partner in ITER, is now asserting itself as a formidable competitor in the fusion arena. The European Union has long supported fusion research through such initiatives as EUROfusion, which coordinates research across numerous European laboratories. Facilities such as the Joint European Torus in the UK and the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator in Germany have achieved significant milestones, demonstrating Europe's commitment to advancing fusion technology. Moreover, European startups such as Marvel Fusion in Germany have attracted substantial investments to develop innovative fusion approaches, signaling a shift towards a more competitive stance in the global fusion race. The historical parallels are instructive. The Cold War-era space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union resulted in unprecedented technological achievements. Beyond landing astronauts on the moon, this competition spurred developments in microelectronics, telecommunications, materials science and computing. The intense desire to outperform a geopolitical rival drove nations to push technological limits, delivering widespread benefits continuously. Could NASA have achieved the moon landing sooner had it been obligated to negotiate every decision with multiple international partners? The answer is unequivocally no. Multilateral consensus-building, however well-intentioned, tends to slow decision-making and dilute ambition. This lesson applies directly to the fusion race. With the accelerating impacts of climate change and global energy demands expected to rise by nearly 50 percent by 2050, fusion energy's promise — clean, abundant, and nearly limitless energy — is urgently needed. Fusion has the potential to decarbonize global energy grids, diminish geopolitical tensions over fossil fuels, and provide stable energy to developing nations. Of course, competition is not without critics. Some argue it leads to duplication, secrecy, or geopolitical tension. Yet history and current fusion progress show competition can sharpen focus, streamline resources, and accelerate timelines where cooperation might stall. Indeed, competition among the U.S., China and Europe is about more than mere technological superiority; it shapes geopolitical alliances, influences global economic dynamics, and may redefine leadership in the 21st century. Just as the U.S. emerged from the space race as a global technological and economic powerhouse, the victor in fusion development will likely dictate future standards for global energy and technology governance. Fusion technology inherently offers widespread humanitarian benefits. Even if initial successes are regionally concentrated, these breakthroughs will inevitably diffuse globally due to their immense economic and environmental advantages. Like space-derived innovations such as satellite technology and computing, fusion's benefits will become universally accessible. Climate negotiations at COP28 underscore the difficulties inherent in international cooperation. Achieving even minimal consensus on reducing fossil fuel production (The 'transition away from fossil fuels' agreement) was politically contentious and largely ineffective, delivering superficial agreements that catered more to geopolitical power dynamics than to any meaningful climate solutions. Such bureaucratic delays and diluted outcomes illustrate why humanity cannot afford to rely solely on multilateral cooperation. Ultimately, the fusion race is not merely a geopolitical contest; it is a vital competition for human survival and global prosperity. While competition may not always be harmonious or efficient, neither was the space race. Yet, the space race advanced humanity dramatically. Allowing the fusion race to unfold unhindered may again deliver swift, transformative solutions at a time when humanity urgently needs them. Our planet and our future depend on embracing this competitive drive. Oded Gour-Lavie is CEO and co-founder of nT-Tao, a compact fusion power company based in Israel.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Oklo Inc. (OKLO) Skyrocketed On Wednesday
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO) stands against other firms blowing up by double digits today. Ten individual stocks soared by double digits on Wednesday, outperforming a lackluster performance among Wall Street's indices, thanks to the 90-day truce between the US and China that continued to boost investor confidence. In contrast, Wall Street's indices were mixed, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq growing 0.72 percent, followed by the S&P 500, up 0.10 percent. The Dow Jones declined by 0.21 percent. In this article, we name Wednesday's 10 best-performing stocks and detail the reasons behind their gains. To come up with the list, we considered only the stocks with a $2-billion market capitalization and $5-million trading volume. A construction crew working on a solar energy system, revealing the company's drive for success. Oklo Inc. rallied for a fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, jumping 15.55 percent to finish at $37.01 apiece as investors continued to snap up shares following its strong earnings performance in the first quarter of the year. In a statement, Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO) trimmed its net loss by 59.16 percent to $9.8 million from the $24.02 million registered in the same period last year, despite incurring a 142-percent increase in loss from operations of $17.9 million versus $7.37 million year-on-year. In other news, Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO) announced the appointment of Pat Schweiger as its new chief technology officer. Previously, he served as chief engineer at SPARC at Commonwealth Fusion Systems as well as senior vice president and vice president for TerraPower. 'Pat's decades of experience and expertise in power engineering will be a tremendous asset to Oklo as we move toward the commercialization of our advanced nuclear technologies,' said Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO) co-founder and CEO Jacob DeWitte. Overall, OKLO ranks 5th on our list of firms blowing up by double digits today. While we acknowledge the potential of OKLO as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than OKLO but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Company backed by Bill Gates takes massive step toward global energy transformation: 'This is the first of a kind'
Commonwealth Fusion Systems just took a monumental step toward reshaping how the world is powered, and how much that power is going to cost. The Massachusetts-based energy startup, created out of MIT and backed by investors like Bill Gates, recently installed a 75-ton cryostat base at its SPARC fusion reactor site. "This is the first of a kind," CFS shared, highlighting the historic nature of this engineering milestone. Fusion energy is the process of combining atomic nuclei to release massive amounts of energy at once. This is the same process that powers the sun. Unlike harmful dirty energy sources, fusion generates no carbon emissions, no harmful pollution, and uses fuel that is virtually limitless. Switching to fusion energy promises reliable electricity that doesn't depend on the weather like solar energy, and with far fewer raw materials to generate than solar and wind turbines. This implies that harnessing fusion energy will cost significantly less long term. If fusion energy can one day become the norm, it will be a win for everyone. Lower utility bills for families, reduced operating costs for companies, and cleaner air for everyone. Fusion energy's promise of creating no pollution is perhaps its biggest positive. Unlike other energy sources, fusion creates no smoke, smog, or toxic waste. This translates to better environmental health and better human health. Plenty of groups are chasing the goal of fusion energy, but CFS stands out for its real-world progress. The cryostat base installation marks the start of SPARC's physical assembly and will keep the reactor's superconducting magnets at 253 degrees Celsius (487 degrees Fahrenheit). This makes the plasmas hotter than the sun. Should the government continue to give tax incentives for energy-efficient home upgrades? Absolutely No Depends on the upgrade I don't know Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. If SPARC meets its target of net energy gain by 2027, it will be the first tokamak reactor to produce more power than it consumes. In a time where global overheating feels overwhelming, fusion energy offers real hope. This solution could one day tackle emissions, cost, and energy problems all at once. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
