Ideas worth spreading

My radical plan for small nuclear fission reactors

2,607,316 views |

Taylor Wilson |

TED2013

• February 2013

Taylor Wilson was 14 when he built a nuclear fusion reactor in his parents' garage. Now 19, he returns to the TED stage to present a new take on an old topic: fission. Wilson, who has won backing to create a company to realize his vision, explains why he's so excited about his innovative design for small modular fission reactors -- and why it could be the next big step in solving the global energy crisis.

Taylor Wilson was 14 when he built a nuclear fusion reactor in his parents' garage. Now 19, he returns to the TED stage to present a new take on an old topic: fission. Wilson, who has won backing to create a company to realize his vision, explains why he's so excited about his innovative design for small modular fission reactors -- and why it could be the next big step in solving the global energy crisis.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Taylor Wilson

Nuclear scientist

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At 14, Taylor Wilson became the youngest person to achieve fusion -- with a reactor born in his garage. Now he wants to save our seaports from nuclear terror.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.