Part 9/12:
Kirtley stresses that fusion possesses intrinsic safety features—its reactions are short-lived, self-terminating once fuel input ceases, and it cannot produce nuclear weapons material like fissile uranium or plutonium. Unlike fission reactors or weapons, fusion fuels like deuterium and helium-3 cannot be used to make bombs.
He points out that global proliferation concerns—connected to uranium enrichment and weapons development—are significantly mitigated by fusion's nature. The push is for distributed, low-cost fusion power that democratizes energy production worldwide, reducing geopolitical tensions tied to oil and gas dependencies.