China’s ‘Artificial Sun’ Shatters Records: 18 Minutes Of 100 Million°C Plasma Revolutionizes Energy Future
Chinese scientists achieve a world record in nuclear fusion with the EAST reactor, sustaining plasma at 100 million degrees Celsius for 1,066 seconds – a leap toward limitless clean energy.

Chinese scientists have achieved a groundbreaking feat in nuclear fusion technology by sustaining plasma temperatures above 100 million degrees Celsius for 1,066 seconds, or nearly 18 minutes. This remarkable achievement has been accomplished in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak, famously called the “artificial Sun.” This is a tremendous step forward in attaining limitless clean energy, a perfect imitation of how the Sun generates power.
The Experimental Setup: EAST Facility
The experiment took place at the EAST facility in Hefei, China. Using hydrogen and deuterium gases as fuel, scientists replicated the nuclear fusion process at the Sun’s core. In this process, light atomic nuclei, such as hydrogen isotopes, combine under immense Heat and pressure to form heavier nuclei, releasing vast amounts of energy. The EAST reactor achieved a temperature seven times hotter than the Sun’s core, around 15 million degrees Celsius.
The reactor’s ability to sustain such extreme temperatures for an extended period sets a new world record, surpassing its previous 403 seconds, achieved in 2023. This great leap forward in nuclear fusion research proves that stable plasma conditions can be sustained longer.

The Significance of the Achievement
Achieving and sustaining such high plasma temperatures is significant to making nuclear fusion a future energy source. Song Yuntao, Director at EAST, said, “Fusion devices should run stably for thousands of seconds to make electricity.” According to him, scientists are getting closer to overcoming one of the most significant technological barriers to nuclear fusion.
Another prominent scientist on the project was Professor Zhou Haishan. He pointed out the challenges associated with material resilience, as the interior of the reactor had to withstand heat and radiation. Advanced materials that could endure damage were to be developed. The simulation environment would be an essential part of the research in creating such simulation environments to test these materials.
The Science Behind Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is when light atomic nuclei fuse to produce a single, heavier nucleus. It is not like nuclear fission, which splits heavy atomic nuclei. Nuclear fusion involves the production of considerable radioactive waste but is cleaner and has fewer dangers than others. For example, it forms minimal residue and uses far more abundant fuel besides hydrogen isotopes in water.
Nuclear-level fusion requires extremely high pressures and temperatures to solve the electrostatic repulsion forces of positive atomic nuclei. In the EAST reactor, lattices or magnetic fields to heat and stabilize plasma would not be necessary, as the reaction would occur very efficiently. The Heat generated during the process could then be utilized to generate electricity.
Why Nuclear Fusion Matters
Nuclear fusion holds enormous potential as a clean source of energy. It has many advantages over conventional sources of energy:
- The abundance of Fuel: Hydrogen isotopes used in fusion are abundant in water, which makes fuel supply almost limitless.
- Minimal Environmental Impact: Fusion produces no greenhouse gases and minimal radioactive waste compared to nuclear fission.
- Safety: Unlike fission reactors, fusion reactors do not pose the risk of catastrophic meltdowns.
- Energy Efficiency: Fusion reactions produce much more energy than fission or chemical reactions, such as fossil fuel burning.
If nuclear fusion can be well promoted, the world’s future of energy production will likely see drastic changes and a bright solution to how this world meets the ever-expanding energy requirements while decreasing climate change.
Challenges in Achieving Nuclear Fusion
Despite the promise, technical challenges abound in realizing nuclear fusion on Earth. Some of these challenges include the following
- Sustaining High Temperatures: The plasma must be kept at a temperature greater than 100 million degrees Celsius, which entails sophisticated stabilization and cooling systems.
- Material Resilience: The reactor core must withstand high temperatures and radiation without suffering damage.
- Energy Input vs. Output: Currently, it requires more energy to start and maintain the fusion process than it generates.
- Cost: Creating and operating a fusion reactor incurs heavy capital costs.
Future Prospects: Toward Commercialization
China’s success with the EAST reactor is a step toward realizing the dream of commercial nuclear fusion. The country’s National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) plans to develop an industrial prototype fusion reactor by 2035. The ultimate goal is to make large-scale fusion technology commercially viable by 2050.
Other countries and organizations are also working on nuclear fusion projects internationally. For example, ITER is the international experimental thermonuclear reactor comprising 35 nations worldwide, including China and France, and it intends to demonstrate that large-scale fusion power is achievable.
Comparison with Other Achievements
South Korean scientists hold the world record for a 100-million-degree plasma duration in 2024. At the same time, they made efforts to build fusion technology on clean energy terms. The importance of the respective records achieved in both countries and the difference in China’s plasma record, measured for 1,066 seconds, indicate rapidness in the process.
The Road Ahead
Though this EAST experiment has been a landmark breakthrough, much must be done to make nuclear fusion an energy source. Challenges persist in reactor design, material science, and energy efficiency, and tremendous investment and international collaboration would be needed to hasten progress.
But the real prize of what they do and what might just be worth all that sweat is yet to come. The stable, self-sustaining plasma is critical to any ideas toward limitless, clean energy sources. In that connection, as research, development, and technology advance, this dream becomes possible and accessible.

Conclusion: China’s Artificial Sun
This success with its “artificial Sun” is one of scientific ingenuity and cooperation. Chinese scientists have managed to sustain the plasma temperature above 100 million degrees Celsius for almost 18 minutes. This marks a new benchmark in nuclear fusion research. Humanity takes a step closer to the potential harnessing of the Sun’s power on Earth, making this the beginning of a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
As countries worldwide race to develop viable fusion technology, China’s progress reminds us of what is possible when science, technology, and determination come together. The road to commercial nuclear fusion may be long, but this milestone proves it is within reach.