A groundbreaking achievement was recently made in the field of nuclear fusion research. The Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) successfully maintained a plasma loop at a staggering 100 million degrees for nearly a minute, shattering the previous record of 31 seconds.
This remarkable feat marks a significant milestone for the team overseeing KSTAR and represents a major advancement in the quest for harnessing nuclear fusion as a viable energy source. The ability to sustain the superheated coils of plasma long enough to initiate a nuclear fusion reaction is a formidable challenge.
However, the KSTAR team’s accomplishment demonstrates significant progress in this area. The pursuit of nuclear fusion as a clean and abundant energy source dates back to Soviet scientist Natan Yavlinsky’s success in 1958, and ongoing research has continued to push the boundaries of what is possible in this field.
Excitingly, the KSTAR scientists are not resting on their laurels. They have set their sights on further record-breaking achievements in the near future.
With ambitious goals in mind, they aim to extend the duration of sustaining the 100 million degrees temperature to 300 seconds by the year 2026. This aspiration underscores the dedication and determination of the KSTAR team to advance the potential of nuclear fusion as a source of sustainable energy for the world.
