China has set record for creating highest heat ever recorded. Scientists created temperatures of up to 70,000,000ºC in "artificial sun". The new record was for keeping heat at temperature that is five times hotter than sun. It did this for more than 17 minutes. The extreme heat was created in nuclear fusion reactor. The reactor is part of the Experimental Advanced Super-conducting Tokamak project (EAST). It reproduces natural reactions that happen inside our sun and other stars. The scientists want to develop artificial sun to create near-endless supply of clean energy. The EAST project has cost China more than $950 billion. Total costs will run over $1 trillion this year.
Scientists around world have been trying for decades to develop nuclear fusion. They say it is best way to produce clean energy. The nuclear fusion process needs no fossil fuels and leaves behind no dangerous waste. If scientists can make it work, the world will become greener and cleaner. It could also mean lower fuel bills. EAST set the new record in laboratory. Nuclear fusion technology is still not advanced enough to become global industry. However, researcher Dr Gong Xianzu, nuclear fusion expert, says the EAST project is important step. He said: " recent operation lays solid scientific and experimental foundation towards running of fusion reactor."
