/popdiaries/media/media_files/2025/01/24/U8iuJC7T1Qd4CKT0x1RL.jpg)
Chinese researchers have made a significant leap in nuclear fusion technology by sustaining plasma temperatures of over 100 million degrees Celsius for nearly 18 minutes. This groundbreaking achievement was made possible through the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), a reactor often referred to as the “artificial sun.”
The experiment, conducted at the EAST facility, mimicked the Sun’s fusion process using hydrogen and deuterium gases as fuel. By fusing light atomic nuclei at extreme temperatures, the reactor aims to replicate the energy generation of stars.
Song Yuntao, Director of EAST, explained the importance of this achievement:
“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 the continuous power generation of future fusion plants.”
While the reactor has yet to achieve ignition—the point where fusion reactions sustain themselves—the progress marks a crucial step toward making fusion energy viable.
Despite the success, significant hurdles remain. According to Professor Zhou Haishan, material durability under extreme conditions is one of the biggest challenges:
“Developing damage-resistant materials is extremely complex.”
Scientists are also focusing on creating advanced simulation environments to test these materials, aiming to improve reactor stability and efficiency.
China’s National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has ambitious plans to develop an industrial prototype fusion reactor by 2035. By 2050, they hope to commercialize large-scale fusion technology, potentially revolutionizing the global energy landscape.
Fusion energy offers numerous advantages:
Abundant Fuel: Hydrogen, the primary fuel, is widely available.
Minimal Waste: Fusion produces negligible radioactive waste compared to fission.
Clean Energy: No greenhouse gas emissions make it environmentally friendly.
China’s achievement follows South Korea’s record in 2024, where scientists also sustained 100-million-degree plasma for a shorter duration. These advancements underline the global race to harness fusion as a clean and nearly limitless energy source.
Since its inception in 2006, EAST has undergone hundreds of thousands of tests. The success of this recent experiment has encouraged China to begin constructing next-generation fusion research facilities in Anhui Province, aiming to accelerate the development of fusion technology.
By replicating the Sun’s natural reaction, scientists believe fusion could address the world’s energy crisis, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and support humanity’s ambitions for space exploration.
Fusion remains the “holy grail” of energy, and with milestones like these, the dream of sustainable, clean energy is inching closer to reality.