Fusion reactor solar power station generator

Can a nuclear fusion reactor simulate the Sun?

First powered up in 2006, EAST is one of several nuclear fusion reactors being worked on, in attempts to produce virtually limitless amounts of clean energy in the same way our own Sun produces energy. Of course, simulating a tiny version of the Sun inside a laboratory is quite a challenge, which is why milestones like this one are so important.

Why are nuclear fusion reactors called 'artificial suns'?

Nuclear fusion reactors are nicknamed "artificial suns" because they generate energy in a similar way to the sun — by fusing two light atoms into a single heavy atom via heat and pressure. The sun has a lot more pressure than Earth's reactors, so scientists compensate by using temperatures that are many times hotter than the sun.

What is nuclear fusion and how does it work?

Understanding Nuclear Fusion and EAST Nuclear fusion is the process that powers the sun, involving the merging of light atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, releasing substantial energy. Replicating this process on Earth promises a nearly inexhaustible source of clean energy.

Is China's 'artificial sun' nuclear fusion reactor a world record?

The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) nuclear fusion reactor on Jan. 15, 2025 in China. (Image credit: Zhang Dagang/VCG via Getty Images) China 's "artificial sun" reactor has broken its own world record for maintaining super-hot plasma, marking another milestone in the long road towards near-limitless clean energy.