How two 'Suns' were shinning on China for 1000 seconds
artificial sun." According to Chinese media reports cited by Live Science, the reactor successfully sustained plasma for an impressive 1,000 seconds, surpassing its previous record of 403 seconds set in 2023. This breakthrough marks a major step forward in the global pursuit of harnessing nuclear fusion as a revolutionary energy source.
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Developing nuclear fusion has long been a scientific challenge due to the extreme conditions required, including sustaining temperatures over 100 million degrees Celsius. The ability to stabilize plasma for extended periods is seen as crucial for the technology’s advancement. «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,» explained Song Yuntao, director of the Institute of Plasma Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in a statement to Chinese state media. He added, «We hope to expand international collaboration via EAST and bring fusion energy into practical use for humanity.»
While the EAST reactor has not yet achieved ignition—the point where nuclear fusion reactions become self-sustaining—the recent record represents a significant step toward maintaining the prolonged plasma confinement necessary for future reactors.
