In a major scientific breakthrough, China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) — often dubbed the “artificial sun” — has set a new world record in nuclear fusion research, bringing humanity one step closer to realizing limitless, clean energy.
The EAST reactor, based in Hefei, Anhui Province, sustained a plasma temperature of 158 million degrees Fahrenheit (70 million°C) — more than five times hotter than the core of the sun — for over 1,000 seconds, a new global record for high-temperature plasma confinement.
Fusion, the same process that powers real stars, involves merging atomic nuclei to release enormous amounts of energy — all without greenhouse gases or long-lived radioactive waste.
The achievement by EAST represents a significant milestone in global efforts to develop nuclear fusion as a practical energy source. If mastered, fusion could provide virtually unlimited power using simple fuels like hydrogen, extracted from water.
Chinese scientists say their goal is to develop a fully functional fusion power plant by 2050. EAST is a key contributor to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), a global collaboration involving the EU, USA, India, and others.
Experts across the globe have hailed the record as a “giant leap” in the race to replace fossil fuels.
“This is the closest we’ve come to bottling the energy of the stars,” said one international energy researcher.
As the world searches for sustainable solutions to climate change and energy demand, China’s ‘artificial sun’ is lighting the way — quite literally — to a brighter, cleaner future.
