A world record and a scientific marvel at the same time. <a href="https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-12-31/China-s-artificial-sun-smashes-1000-second-fusion-world-record-16rlFJZzHqM/index.html">China’s ‘artificial sun’ set a new world record</a> by running for 1,056 seconds at high plasma temperature. This total runtime is the longest ever for an experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST) fusion energy reactor.&nbsp;This was a result of a new round of testing by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Plasma Physics. The reactor was created to mimic a fusion reaction that happens in the Sun by using hydrogen and deuterium gases as fuel. This is why it has received the&nbsp; moniker of&nbsp; ‘artificial sun.’ While breaking records is a nice thing, these tests and experiments were done to provide insights into plasma physics research that is crucial to establishing industrial-sized reactors that they hope will generate clean energy.Image credit: CFP#science #physics #nuclearreactors #fusion #plasmaphysics #China