France Sets New Plasma Duration Record, Advancing Fusion Energy

French researchers at the WEST tokamak reactor have achieved a new milestone in fusion energy research, sustaining ultra-hot plasma for 1,337 seconds (22 minutes, 17 seconds) at 50 million degrees Celsius. This surpasses the previous record of 1,066 seconds set by China's EAST reactor in January 2025 by over 25%. This achievement, announced by the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), marks a significant step toward harnessing energy from hydrogen atom fusion, the process powering stars. Unlike nuclear fission, fusion promises a cleaner and more efficient energy source with minimal long-term radioactive waste. Scientists aim to replicate the Sun's fusion process on Earth using magnetic confinement, requiring temperatures far exceeding the Sun's core. The WEST reactor's success in maintaining plasma stability for extended periods is crucial for future fusion reactors like ITER, paving the way for sustainable energy production.