In 1951, American physicist Lyman Spitzer introduced a bold idea: a magnetic device capable of trapping superhot plasma to replicate the power of the Sun here on Earth. He called it the “stellarator,” aiming to harness nuclear fusion as a clean, safe, and virtually limitless energy source. But the concept was far ahead of its time—too complex to build with mid-century technology—and was eventually sidelined in favor of simpler approaches.

Today, the stellarator is getting a second chance, thanks to Proxima Fusion, a European startup launched in 2023. Leveraging the power of modern supercomputers, Proxima is reviving the once-abandoned design, optimizing it with precision unimaginable in the 1950s. The company’s CEO, Italian physicist Francesco Sciortino, says fusion is no longer just a scientific dream but a strategic path toward energy independence and technological leadership.