China's 'Artificial Sun' Breaks Record, Sustains Plasma for 1,000 Seconds

China has made significant strides in nuclear fusion energy with its Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), known as the 'artificial sun.' The reactor recently set a new record by sustaining plasma for 1,000 seconds, surpassing its previous record of 403 seconds achieved in 2023. This groundbreaking experiment is a vital step towards creating a sustainable and clean energy source.

Scientists have long aimed to harness the power of nuclear fusion, which involves merging atomic nuclei to release vast amounts of energy, similar to the process that fuels the sun. Achieving stable operation at temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius has presented numerous challenges, making the recent success a noteworthy milestone.

Song Yuntao, director of the Institute of Plasma Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, emphasized that achieving stable operation over extended periods is crucial for the development of practical fusion energy solutions for future power plants. While ignition—the point at which fusion reactions are self-sustaining—has yet to be reached, sustaining plasma for 1,000 seconds demonstrates substantial progress.

China's EAST reactor has been operational since 2006, completing many tests and leading to the construction of new experimental facilities in Anhui Province aimed at advancing fusion research. As nuclear fusion is considered the holy grail of energy due to its potential for clean, near-unlimited power, the international scientific community is hopeful for future collaborations to bring fusion energy into practical use.