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2026-07-29 05:14 UTC → 2026-07-29 05:35 UTC ·
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Early In early July 2026, 2026 China announced a key step toward its “Artificial Sun” fusion program, reporting program with a successful test of a 582‑ton superconducting magnet – the world’s largest of its kind – capable of generating magnetic fields strong enough to confine plasma above 100 million °C. toroidal‑field magnet. By late July, July the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences confirmed that the D‑shaped toroidal‑field magnet, measuring 21 m by long and 12 m and storing roughly three times the energy of ITER’s comparable magnets, wide, had passed acceptance testing after a six‑year six‑year, fully domestic development program. programme. The magnet stores roughly three times the energy of ITER’s comparable magnets and has a volume about 1.3 times larger. Built entirely with Chinese technology and materials, it eliminates foreign supply dependence. It will be installed in the upcoming BEST tokamak under the state‑run CRAFT project, reinforcing China’s domestically sourced approach and its goal working alongside a high‑temperature superconducting central solenoid coil to achieve electricity‑generating fusion confine plasma heated above 100 million °C. Chinese officials say the breakthrough brings the target of generating electricity from a prototype “artificial Sun” reactor by around 2030. 2030 within reach, highlighting China’s drive to lead carbon‑free fusion energy.