China's nuclear fusion reactor, dubbed the "artificial sun," has achieved a new technological milestone with temperatures exceeding 100 million Celsius for both atomic nuclei and electrons for the first time, taking another step forward on the road toward near-limitless clean energy.
The "Huanliu-3" is a large-scale scientific device for controlled nuclear fusion, independently developed by China. Its energy generation principle is similar to the way the sun produces light and heat, which is why it is dubbed the new-generation artificial sun.
Latest experimental data shows that the device has, for the first time, reached a nuclear temperature of 117 million degrees Celsius and an electron temperature of 160 million Celsius, according to China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).
"Today, we achieved the 'double 100 million degrees Celsius temperature' targets in our experiment, with the comprehensive parameters showing significant improvement. It means that our country's nuclear fusion research has now entered the burning plasma experiment stage. Our self-developed heating, control, and diagnostic equipment and systems have been put into operation for the first time, with the relevant technical indicators now reaching the forefront of the world, setting new records in our country's nuclear fusion research," said Zhong Wulyu, deputy director of the Center for Fusion Science under the Southwestern Institute of Physics of the CNNC and head of the Huanliu-3 experiment.
Experts noted that the fusion reaction of the artificial sun releases tremendous energy, draws on abundant fusion resources, and produces clean and safe byproducts, making it known as "the ideal energy source for humanity's future."
Entering the burning plasma experiment phase signifies that controlled nuclear fusion has reached a core stage toward practical application. Moving forward, researchers will further upgrade the capabilities of "Huanliu-3" to obtain key core data necessary for controlled nuclear fusion reactions.
China's "artificial sun" achieves new milestone on path toward near-limitless clean energy
The recent weeks have seen several major earthquakes around the world including the 7.9 magnitude quake striking Myanmar on Friday that have killed over 2,000 people.
These seismic events trigger worries among the public over the frequency of the earthquakes while an expert in southwest China's Chengdu City said the recent earthquakes across globe fall within normal range.
"The recent earthquakes, whether in Myanmar, Tonga, or parts of China like Xinjiang or Yunnan, all occurred in well-known seismic zones. These regions are generally expected to experience quakes, and even magnitude 7 or above events fall within the normal range. Statistically, the frequency and strength of earthquakes we've seen so far this year are consistent with previous years," said Wang Yun, director of the Natural Disaster Early Warning Research Center at Sichuan University in a video interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
Wang said the reason why people perceive an increase in earthquake frequency recently is they are exposed to earthquake-related news especially when the devastating Myanmar earthquake have already caught their attentions.
"Nowadays, people are more exposed to news of disasters, especially when a deadly quake like Myanmar's makes headlines. People's increased awareness also makes them more sensitive to seismic news," he said.
According to Xu Xiwei, a professor from the Beijing-based China University of Geosciences, whether earthquakes are frequent or whether the earth has entered a seismically active period cannot be determined by human perception or the number of small to moderate earthquakes.
The frequency of earthquakes should be assessed by comparing it to the normal average value of earthquake frequency and energy release in a specific region or globally over a certain period, Xu said in a phone interview with China Central Television (CCTV).
Citing earthquake statistics since 1900, Xu noted that over the past century, the world has experienced an average of 150 earthquakes of magnitude six or above, 18 earthquakes of magnitude seven or above, and one earthquake of magnitude eight per year.
From a statistical perspective, the 17 earthquakes of magnitude six or above recorded worldwide so far this year are insufficient to indicate that the world has entered a seismically active or frequent period, he added.
Recent earthquakes across globe fall within normal range: expert
