China’s experimental ‘artificial Sun’ passes key landmark for viability of nuclear fusion

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Chinese Academy of Sciences said its pioneering experimental nuclear reactor, dubbed the “artificial Sun”, successfully ran for more than 1,000 seconds – 1,066 to be precise. China achieves milestone by maintaining steady-state high-confinement plasma operation for impressive 1,066 seconds A theoretical “artificial Sun” reactor would not produce large volumes of emissions like fossil fuels do, or leave behind any hazardous waste as with the fission process behind commercial nuclear power plants. However, there are several hurdles in the way of creating a viable fusion reactor, including reaching temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius, maintaining stable long-term operation, and ensuring precise control of the nuclear fusion process. China's 'artificial sun' sets new fusion record These achievements, according to researchers, provide “invaluable insights” and references for the global development of a functional nuclear fusion reactor.