China's new 'artificial sun' sets world record — here's how it could change energy production forever
China's nuclear fusion reactor, called the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) officially but an "artificial sun" by many, has just set a record for the longest sustained, stable nuclear fusion reaction.
EAST maintained the reaction for 17 minutes and 46 seconds, smashing its own previous 2023 world record of 6 minutes and 43 seconds, according to Newsweek.
If nuclear fusion technology can be safely harnessed, it will provide a practically infinite source of clean energy. Needless to say, that would be incredibly beneficial for humanity. Not only does nuclear fusion not produce the harmful carbon emissions burning fossil fuels does, but it doesn't require constant sun or wind, like solar and turbines respectively do. You turn the machine on, and it just produces basically free power. Forever.
Unlike current nuclear-generated power, which relies on nuclear fission, nuclear fusion produces no harmful radioactive elements when under operation. Nuclear fission plants bombard atoms with electrons, breaking them apart, which releases energy but also produces radioactive isotopes that must be safely contained and stored.
Nuclear fusion works in the opposite way. Reactors like EAST take hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe and force its atomic nuclei to bond under enormous pressure. This releases huge amounts of energy, which the reactor harnesses.
But it's a tough scientific nut to crack. This new record by EAST moves humanity one step closer, though.
"A fusion device must achieve stable operation at high efficiency for thousands of seconds to enable the self-sustaining circulation of plasma, which is critical for the continuous power generation of future fusion plants," said Song Yuntao, director of the Chinese Academy of Science's Institute of Plasma Physics.
EAST has been in operation for nearly 20 years and has been upgraded thoroughly since it first went online in 2006, according to news agency Xinhua.
Should we be pouring money into nuclear fusion technology?
Yes — it'll pay off
It's worth exploring
Not from our tax dollars
No — it's a waste
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
What researchers are learning with EAST will be folded into the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, a giant tokamak-type reactor under construction in France, as part of a global effort.
"We hope to expand international collaboration via EAST and bring fusion energy into practical use for humanity," Song said in a statement.
Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Newsweek
Russian Volcano Erupts for the First Time in 600 Years
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Russia's remote Krasheninnikov volcano, dormant for roughly 600 years, erupted overnight in Kamchatka peninsula in the country's far east, just days after a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck the region. The eruption generated an ash plume rising approximately 6,000 meters (nearly 20,000 feet) into the sky, the Kamchatka branch of Russia's Ministry for Emergency Services said, as per Reuters. The volcano itself stands at 1,856 meters. Newsweek contacted several volcanologists for comment on Sunday via email. Why It Matters This eruption marks the first documented activity at Krasheninnikov since around 1463, according to experts, making it a geologically significant event. The timing, coming shortly after one of the strongest earthquakes in recent years, suggests a potential link between tectonic stress and volcanic activation. The same earthquake is believed to have triggered the eruption of Klyuchevskoy, Kamchatka's most active volcano, which began on Wednesday. Russian officials issued and then lifted a tsunami warning for the Kamchatka peninsula on Sunday after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, Newsweek reported. Tsunami waves were possible in three parts of Russia's far eastern Kamchatka region, the country's Ministry for Emergency Services had said Sunday, following the earthquake near the Kuril Islands, per Reuters. A picture taken on March 16, 2021, shows people watching Klyuchevskoy volcano eruption on Russia's far eastern Kamchatka peninsula. A picture taken on March 16, 2021, shows people watching Klyuchevskoy volcano eruption on Russia's far eastern Kamchatka peninsula. MAXIM FESYUNOV/AFP viaWhat To Know Kamchatka, known as the "land of fire and ice," is among the most volcanically and seismically active areas on the planet. The region is home to roughly 300 volcanoes, including 29 that are currently active, according to NASA's Earth Observatory. The region is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, named for frequent volcanic and seismic activity in the area, which stretches over parts of more than 20 countries that lie along the edges of the Pacific Ocean, including Indonesia, New Zealand, Papa New Guinea, the Philippines, Japan, the United States, Chile, Canada, Guatemala, Russia and Peru. Krasheninnikov volcano's eruption coincided with the eruption of Klyuchevskoy volcano earlier this week. As reported by Newsweek, the latter eruption occurred just hours after a huge 8.8 magnitude earthquake early Wednesday off Russia's far eastern coast, triggering a tsunami that sent waves across the Pacific, prompting evacuations and emergency declarations from Russia to Hawaii and alerts as far south as New Zealand. The quake is tied for the sixth strongest ever recorded and was upgraded from an initial 8.0 reading. Aftershocks were reported to be ongoing, raising the risk of further seismic or volcanic activity. Experts suggest the earthquake may have triggered a volcano-tectonic event, a known precursor when seismic stress agitates dormant magma chambers. Such interactions are rare but well-documented in historical cases globally. Clive Oppenheimer, a professor of volcanology at the University of Cambridge and a featured expert in Werner Herzog's 2016 documentary Into the Inferno, told Newsweek on Sunday: "The connection is plausible. There is statistical evidence that very large earthquakes might trigger some eruptions of volcanoes within some hundreds of kilometers of the epicenter. But the mechanisms are not well understood. "This reported activity of Krasheninnikov volcano is certainly intriguing in this respect. One idea is that in regions like South America or Indonesia or Kamchatka…several might be more or less primed to erupt in coming decades or centuries and that the seismic disturbance experienced by the subterranean magma or the crust holding it in brings the eruption date forwards for some." The latest incident has heightened concerns around seismic engineering, aviation safety, and disaster preparedness in a notoriously volatile region Russian emergency authorities assigned an orange aviation warning code, signaling potential disruption to flights, per Reuters. What People Are Saying Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team, cited by RIA, per Reuters: "This is the first historically confirmed eruption of Krasheninnikov volcano in 600 years." The Kamchatka branch of Russia's Ministry for Emergency Services said on Telegram, per Reuters: "The ash cloud has drifted eastward, toward the Pacific Ocean. There are no populated areas along its path." What Happens Next Regional scientists are closely monitoring seismic patterns and lava movement. Government officials emphasize that no ashfall has impacted inhabited areas, and evacuation protocols remain in effect for low-lying coastal locations affected by tsunami alerts Authorities continue tracking aftershocks and potential volcanic hazards as the Pacific region remains on heightened alert. Air travel over Kamchatka may be disrupted while aviation zones remain under the orange warning.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Woman Diagnosed With AIDS Given 2 Years to Live—Shock Over Her Health Now
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. "I kept my status hidden for decades to protect my family, but now it's my time to talk," Jennifer Comstock told Newsweek, 35 years after an AIDS diagnosis left her in denial. In 1990, Comstock and her first husband were on active duty in the Marine Corps. With her husband due to be sent out to the Persian Gulf, he submitted to a mandatory HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) test, which was positive. That wasn't when Comstock learned her fate, as she didn't know her husband was living with HIV until she visited him in the hospital and noticed countless warnings about HIV on his ward. Comstock was faced with the reality that her husband had been cheating on her with men and may have transmitted HIV. Just 20 years old, Comstock got tested and then came a perilous wait for the results. A month later, she was given the devastating news that she too was positive. "As I was on active duty in the Marine Corps, I was expected to be composed and to keep breathing, which I did," Comstock said. "In those early years, I lived in denial. I just believed I was going to be OK, without any real reason for feeling that way." During her first trip to the hospital, Comstock, now 55, learned that her T cells, a type of white blood cell that helps the immune system fight germs, were below 200. The normal range can vary, but The Cleveland Clinic suggests that generally it should be between 500 to 1,200 cells for a healthy adult. HIV is known to attack white blood cells and causes the body to make fewer T cells. By the time she learned of her diagnosis, Comstock's health had already deteriorated significantly. As a result, she was given an automatic AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) diagnosis. Jennifer Comstock in 1990 while in the Marine Corps, and with her second husband. Jennifer Comstock in 1990 while in the Marine Corps, and with her second husband. @positivejen / TikTok Untreated, HIV weakens the immune system and can become AIDS in around 8 to 10 years, according to the Mayo Clinic. People with AIDS are more likely to develop other diseases, causing symptoms such as sweats, chills, recurring fever, fatigue, mouth lesions, and weakness. Approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. have HIV, and around 13 percent of them don't know. In 2022, an estimated 31,800 people acquired HIV in the U.S., with the highest rates in the South. Following her diagnosis, Comstock was given only 2 years to live and told to "get [her] affairs in order" before she passed. "It definitely makes you live life to the fullest," she said. "I did what I wanted to do. I joined the military, in a large part to be able to afford college. But then I thought, why bother? I won't live to graduate, so I'd rather not spend my time studying. By my 40s, I went to college and graduated cum laude with a degree in history. I've never done anything by halves since my diagnosis. I give my full self to everything and everyone I am involved with." She's been taking ART (antiretroviral therapy) since 1997, which prevents the disease from transmitting if there's an undetectable viral load. In 1994, Comstock met her second husband who was HIV negative. She dreaded having to tell him that she has AIDS, assuming he'd walk away before their relationship even got started. "Instead, he said he didn't care if we had 2 years or 20," Comstock said. Ultimately, they had 30 wonderful years together and Comstock welcomed three children, all HIV negative. When they vowed to love each other in sickness and in health, they both truly meant it. "I ended up being the one taking care of him after he had an aortic dissection in 2007. I took care of him through two open heart surgeries and 17 years of bad health. You just never know how life is going to work out," Comstock told Newsweek. "My husband and I always wanted to travel. It wasn't always easy when my husband was sick, but we always said we could be sick at home, or sick somewhere exciting." Jennifer Comstock with her second husband on vacation. Jennifer Comstock with her second husband on vacation. @positivejen / TikTok Life has thrown many challenges at Comstock, but she's remained resilient. In recent years, Comstock sadly lost her husband and son (both unrelated to HIV). She's battled many illnesses, but her health is much better now, and the disease is undetectable. Her immune system was severely damaged before ART medication became available. Indeed, if that breakthrough didn't occur when it did, Comstock thinks she "wouldn't have made it" because she was incredibly sick. There were complications at first, including cardiomyopathy, heart failure, pneumonia and mini strokes, but Comstock isn't certain if they were caused by HIV or the medication. "Some of those early meds were much harsher than the newer ones," she said. Despite being told she only had two years left, Comstock has gained a college degree, started a family, and become a qualified travel advisor. Jennifer Comstock with her second husband while traveling the world. Jennifer Comstock with her second husband while traveling the world. @positivejen / TikTok Comstock has been living with AIDS for 35 years and no longer feels like she has to live in secret. She stayed silent to protect her children, but now that they're grown up, she is using her voice to educate and raise awareness. She created a TikTok account (@positivejen) to discuss her diagnosis, answer questions, and to break the stigma. "I am here and so many are not," she said. "Someone needs to speak up, especially for women. I want people to understand that people living with HIV are normal. We have kids, husbands, careers, full lives. HIV is something we have, not who we are. HIV doesn't define me." She added: "I have people from all over the world contacting me for advice. So many are just happy to see someone like me living a normal life. I often have to correct people posting misinformation. AIDS denialism is still alive and well—it's not like 1990, but it's still there." Is there a health issue that's worrying you? Let us know via health@ We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Newsweek
Map Shows Where China and Russia Are Expanding Bases in Antarctica
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Expansion by Russia and China in Antarctica has raised concerns about the countries' military and mining ambitions for the territory. China has announced that it will build a sixth permanent research station on the icy continent, while Russia is reopening and upgrading stations and building a new runway. The 1961 Antarctic Treaty prohibits military activity on the continent, but experts have sounded the alarm that moves by Russia and China may transform it into another object of territorial competition. Newsweek has mapped the extent of the countries' existing operations around the South Pole and has contacted the Chinese and Russian foreign ministries for comment. Why It Matters The status of Antarctica as a pristine research reserve has been challenged by infrastructure and logistic expansions by China and Russia, which have prompted alarm about whether the countries have nonscientific motivations for the southern land. Meanwhile, the White House has announced $60 million cuts to its Antarctic funding, and representatives of the 58 Antarctic Treaty signatories discussed this month how the southern territory can remain a place for science and peace. This image taken on March 13, 2014, shows a Chinese base on King George Island in Antarctica. This image taken on March 13, 2014, shows a Chinese base on King George Island in To Know The Antarctic Treaty promotes international collaboration and lays aside the territorial claims of seven countries, which have all agreed not to act on their claimed ownership. Expansion plans are within the rights of the Antarctic Treaty, but China and Russia have raised suspicions about whether their intentions will remain peaceful and are also accused of undermining conservation efforts by blocking new protections for marine areas. In June, the United Kingdom's parliamentary environmental audit committee released a report that questioned whether Russian seismic surveys were for potential oil prospecting, rather than scientific exploration. The report also said both Russia and China were seen as pursuing strategic interests in the region—with Moscow looking to assert its status as a polar power, while China continues to expand its Antarctic infrastructure. China wants to build its sixth research station at Marie Byrd Land in the west of the continent to be opened in 2027. Beijing said there was no "geopolitical motive" behind the plans, according to the Australian outlet ABC. Newsweek's map shows China's Antarctic sites, three of which are permanent and three seasonal. They are Kunlun, Taishan, Zhongshan, Qinling, Great Wall Station and a site at Inexpressible Island. The map also shows 11 Russian sites, five of which are permanent, five seasonal and one temporarily closed. The permanent ones are at Molodezhnaya, Mirny, Novolazarevskaya, Bellingshausen and Vostok. A U.S. Defense Department report in 2022 said China's increased presence in Antarctica was likely intended to strengthen claims to natural resources and maritime access. Bill Muntean, a nonresident senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told ABC that there were "significant questions" about Russia's and China's scientific explorations on the continent. Jeffrey McGee, an expert in the Antarctic treaty from Australia's University of Tasmania, told the outlet that some scientific equipment installed by the countries could have dual scientific and military uses, such as infrared telescopes, GPS and ground-station receivers that can communicate with satellites. Worries about dual-use equipment were highlighted in a June 2022 report for the Sea Power Centre Australia, which concluded that while the Antarctic has not yet reached a period of militarization, it is no longer fully nonmilitarized and used solely for peaceful purposes. While the U.S. is the main player in the Antarctic region, the White House has announced cuts of about $60 million to its Antarctic funding, sparking concerns among experts. Muntean told The New York Times that the U.S. has been steadily retreating from activities in Antarctica. He said that while the country isn't closing any stations, it's not repairing them or building them and has been reducing some logistics capacity. What People Are Saying Bill Muntean, a nonresident senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Australia's ABC: "There are significant questions and concerns over activities in the oceans off Antarctica. … What are Russia and China doing with their scientific explorations?" A U.K. parliamentary environmental audit committee report released in June said: "With rising geopolitical tensions, particularly from countries like Russia and China, the U.K.'s role in supporting the Antarctic Treaty System is growing in importance." Sea Power Centre Australia wrote in a June 2022 report: "One of the main challenges Russia and China pose to the stability of the ATS is linked to suspicions of dual-purpose activities in the Antarctic, and notably military intelligence operation." What Happens Next China has said there is no "geopolitical motive" behind the expansion of its operations in Antarctica, but international concerns over the intentions of Beijing and Moscow in the icy continent are likely to continue.
