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3mo ago

China's 'Artificial Sun' Sets New Fusion Record with 1,000-Second Plasma Containment

The EAST reactor achieved temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius, marking significant progress toward sustainable nuclear fusion energy.

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An image about China breaks record with nuclear test that burned 6 times hotter than the Sun
China's EAST, the "artificial sun," hits a new milestone in nuclear fusion research

Overview

  • China's Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reactor confined plasma for 1,000 seconds, breaking its previous record of 403 seconds set in 2023.
  • The reactor reached temperatures over 100 million degrees Celsius, replicating conditions found in stars like the Sun to advance nuclear fusion research.
  • Nuclear fusion, often called the 'holy grail' of energy, aims to provide a limitless, green energy source with minimal environmental risks compared to nuclear fission.
  • Despite this milestone, the reactor has not yet achieved ignition, the point where fusion reactions generate more energy than they consume.
  • The achievement underscores China's leadership in fusion research, with plans to further develop next-generation facilities to accelerate practical applications of fusion energy.