‘Artificial sun’ sets new record toward goal of limitless clean energy

Here comes the sun.

Scientists in China have reportedly achieved an astounding breakthrough in the study of fusion power generation — bringing us one step closer to creating an infinite source of clean energy.

The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), dubbed China’s “artificial sun,” reached a steady state of operation for a staggering 1,066 seconds on Monday.

Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) machine conducting nuclear fusion. The emanating orange particles represents the circulation of the same sort of highly charged gas — plasma — that powers the sun. HFIPS

That’s nearly three times as long as the previous record of 403 seconds, set in 2023.

Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) aim to safely replicate the sun’s nuclear fusion processes here on Earth, thereby solving global energy crises and facilitating exploration of even farther reaches of space.

Nuclear fusion works by colliding light atoms together to form a single, heavier nucleus that is less than the mass of the two original nuclei. The leftover mass translates into a powerful burst of energy — the same kind that powers the sun and stars.

The EAST laboratory debuted in 2006 as an open testing platform for both international scientists to conduct fusion-related experiments and research. HFIPS

Song Yuntao, vice president of CAS’ Hefei Institutes of Physical Science and director of Heifei’s Institute of Plasma Physics, said in a statement, “A fusion device must achieve stable operation at high efficiency for thousands of seconds to enable the self-sustaining circulation of plasma, which is essential for the continuous power generation of future fusion plants.”

For over 70 years, physicists around the globe have dreamed of developing a nuclear fusion reactor, which would need to maintain stable long-term operation at temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius.

EAST’s recent achievement came close at 108 million degrees Celsius for 17 minutes and 46 seconds, according to a China Daily report.

“We hope to expand international collaboration via EAST and bring fusion energy into practical use for humanity,” said Song.