China Sets New Milestone with Nuclear Fusion 'Artificial Sun' Experiment

China has made another giant leap into revolutionizing energy production with a remarkable nuclear fusion breakthrough. The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), also known as China’s “artificial sun,” successfully maintained plasma for a record time of 1,000 seconds. This achievement beats its record in 2023, when Live Science reported it to hold the plasma for 403 seconds, according to Chinese media. The key focus word here is “nuclear fusion experiment.”

China finally launches artificial sun reaching temperature over 100 million degrees

Achieving sustainable nuclear fusion has been a long-standing challenge for scientists. Reaching temperatures over 100 million degrees Celsius and maintaining stability for extended periods has been a key hurdle. However, with the latest milestone of stabilizing plasma for 1,000 seconds, scientists believe they are edging closer to making nuclear fusion a practical energy source.

Song Yuntao, director of the Institute of Plasma Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said this was a key step forward in this field. “A fusion device must achieve stable operation at high efficiency for thousands of seconds to enable the self-sustaining circulation of plasma, which is critical for continuous power generation of future fusion plants,” he said in comments to state media.

EAST’s progress is crucial for fulfilling the world’s energy needs. The nuclear reactor has not yet achieved “ignition,” the point at which fusion reactions sustain themselves through energy. However, this new record shows a considerable step forward in creating extended plasma loops that could eventually be used to power future fusion reactors.

EAST was first put into operation in 2006. Since then, it has passed hundreds of thousands of tests. The successful experience of this reactor has led to the construction of new-generation experimental fusion research facilities in Anhui Province, and therefore accelerated China’s effort to exploit nuclear fusion energy.

Unlike nuclear fission, which tears apart heavy atoms and brings with it dangers of radioactive waste and accidents, nuclear fusion emulates the normal process of the sun. This creates enormous amounts of clean energy without greenhouse gases, providing humanity with a safe, and virtually limitless source of energy.

China’s “nuclear fusion experiment” succeeded, bringing a world closer to solving the energy crisis that afflicts both worlds, providing sustainable energy for both Earth’s humanity and future humanity in space.