Chinese scientists have achieved a major milestone in nuclear fusion research. Their reactor, known as the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak or EAST is often called an artificial sun. In early 2025, EAST sustained a super‑hot loop of plasma for 1,066 seconds about 17 minutes and 46 seconds, breaking its own previous record of 403 seconds.
Why 1,066 Seconds of Plasma for Clean Energy
Maintaining high‑temperature plasma stably for over a thousand seconds is a critical test. Scientists must keep temperatures above 100 million c often around 108 million c to force fusion reactions. Such long runs help show that future reactors could generate energy continuously.
Song Yuntao, director at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, explained that to power real fusion plants, devices need to operate efficiently and stably for thousands of seconds. The recent record is a big step toward that goal.
How Did China Improve Its Fusion Technology?
To reach the new record, Chinese engineers improved several systems inside EAST. They doubled the power of the heating system previously similar to tens of thousands of household microwaves while keeping the reactor stable and continuous. These upgrades made it possible to hold the plasma longer and hotter than before
The jump from the previous record 403 seconds in 2023 to 1,066 seconds in early 2025 shows clear technical progress. The reactor now holds plasma for more than three times as long as before.
What Does This Mean for the Global Fusion Race?
EAST’s success places China among the leading players in the global effort to develop fusion power. China collaborates internationally, including participating in ITER, a fusion research project in France involving many countries. Data from EAST helps inform designs for ITER and other future reactors
China is also developing its own follow‑on reactor, the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor which aims for even higher performance.
Although sustaining plasma for 1,066 seconds is exciting, real electricity generation still requires achieving ignition when fusion generates net positive power. That remains a challenge. Most reactors in the world currently use more energy than they produce.
The current record is a crucial mid‑step. It shows that long-term plasma confinement is possible. But to power cities, scientists must solve problems like reducing energy loss and building materials that withstand extreme heat.
Why the Artificial Sun Is Good News for the Planet’s Future
Successful fusion breakthroughs like EAST bring us closer to clean, safe, and nearly limitless energy. Fusion does not produce greenhouse gases or long-lived radioactive waste like nuclear fission. It uses hydrogen fuels that are abundant. If engineered well, fusion energy could help solve climate change and energy access challenges.
The record run shows real progress toward that goal. It moves fusion research from lab curiosity to practical possibility.
For nearly 70 years, scientists around the world have worked to recreate the power of the sun in a machine. EAST’s ability to hold plasma for nearly 18 minutes at extreme heat is a major milestone. It proves the technology is improving—and brings fusion energy a step closer to reality.
