Kansas is about to host the world’s first mile-deep nuclear reactor. (KMUW)
The physics hack: California startup Deep Fission is ditching massive concrete domes for a standard 30-inch borehole. By placing the reactor a mile deep, the sheer weight of the water column above naturally provides the necessary operating pressure, eliminating the need for thick, costly steel pressure vessels.
The waste fix: The design offers a "bury it and forget it" solution. When the reactor is spent (after ~2–7 years), it can be sealed in place forever far below the water table, or pulled up for inspection like an oil pump.
The timeline: Backed by a DOE pilot program, the Deep Fission aims to have the reactor running by July 4, 2026, feeding power to a local industrial park and data centers.