China’s advanced “artificial sun” reactor has set a new world record, sustaining super-hot plasma for 1,066 seconds (17.76 minutes). This milestone marks significant progress toward the long-term goal of developing a nearly limitless source of clean energy through nuclear fusion.
The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reactor achieved this breakthrough on Jan. 20, 2025, more than doubling its previous record of 403 seconds (6.71 minutes).
Scientists successfully maintained the plasma—a highly energetic state of matter—inside a donut-shaped chamber using powerful magnetic fields.
The achievement highlights advancements in controlling extreme heat and pressure, which are essential for sustained fusion reactions.
The science behind fusion
Fusion reactors, often nicknamed artificial suns, generate energy by fusing two lightweight atoms into a heavier one. The process mimics the sun’s natural energy production. However, achieving this on Earth necessitates significantly higher temperatures due to the absence of the sun’s immense pressure.
Fusion is seen as a potential game-changer for global energy, offering an abundant and clean alternative to fossil fuels with minimal waste.
Despite its promise, nuclear fusion remains a work in progress after more than 70 years of research. Current reactors use more energy than they generate, with the technology still years away from widespread adoption.
Experts caution that while breakthroughs like EAST’s are encouraging, fusion is unlikely to address the immediate climate crisis.
Global collaboration in fusion research
EAST is part of a global effort to unlock fusion’s potential. China is a key contributor to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) program, a collaboration involving dozens of countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and Russia.
The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), dubbed China's "artificial sun," maintained a steady-state high-confinement plasma operation for a remarkable 1,066 seconds on Monday, setting a new world record and marking a breakthrough in the quest for fusion power… pic.twitter.com/UDjTexeBsH
— China Science (@ChinaScience) January 20, 2025
The ITER reactor, under construction in southern France, is expected to begin operations no earlier than 2039. It will serve as a research tool to test sustained fusion reactions and could lay the groundwork for future power plants.
Technological upgrades to EAST
To achieve its latest record, researchers at EAST implemented significant upgrades, including doubling the power of the reactor’s heating system.
These enhancements allowed the team to stabilize the plasma for a longer duration, setting the stage for future experiments aimed at improving energy efficiency.
However, EAST, like other reactors, has not yet achieved ignition – a critical milestone where the energy generated by the fusion reaction exceeds the energy input.
Hope for the future
Song Yuntao, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Plasma Physics, emphasized the global importance of fusion research. “We hope to expand international collaboration via EAST and bring fusion energy into practical use for humanity,” Song said.
The data gathered from EAST will inform future designs and operations, including ITER and other experimental reactors worldwide. While the road to practical fusion energy is long, researchers see each milestone as a vital step toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.
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