By On January 20, 2025, China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), often referred to as the “artificial sun,” achieved a significant milestone by sustaining a plasma temperature exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius (180 million degrees Fahrenheit) for 1,066 seconds, setting a new world record. This achievement marks a substantial advancement in nuclear fusion research, as maintaining such high temperatures is essential for replicating the sun’s core reactions on Earth.
The EAST facility utilized hydrogen and deuterium gases as fuel to generate the plasma, aiming to develop a sustainable and clean energy source through controlled nuclear fusion. The successful operation of EAST at these extreme temperatures demonstrates the facility’s capability to simulate the operational environment of a future fusion power plant. This progress brings researchers closer to realizing the potential of nuclear fusion as a virtually limitless and clean energy source.
While this accomplishment is a significant step forward, challenges remain, including developing materials that can withstand the intense conditions within the reactor. The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) oversees the project, with plans to construct the first industrial prototype fusion reactor by 2035 and achieve large-scale commercial use by 2050. If successful, nuclear fusion could offer a safe, clean, and virtually limitless energy source, revolutionizing global energy production and consumption.
