Scientists have just set a new world record for high-temperature sustained plasma with the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) device, reaching an ion temperature of above 100 million degrees Celsius (180 million degrees Fahrenheit) for a period of 20 seconds.

Known as Korea’s “artificial sun”, the KSTAR uses magnetic fields to generate and stabilise ultra-hot plasma, with the ultimate aim of making nuclear fusion power a reality – a potentially unlimited source of clean energy that could transform the way we power our lives, if we can get it to work as intended.

https://www.sciencealert.com/south-korea-s-artificial-sun-just-set-a-new-world-record-for-high-temperature-plasma

Cool. So fusion power could be only 10 years away.

Dark Orange said:

Cool. So fusion power could be only 10 years away.

It’s been only 10 years away for the last 50 years.

party_pants said:

Dark Orange said:

Cool. So fusion power could be only 10 years away.

It’s been only 10 years away for the last 50 years.

party_pants said:

Dark Orange said:

Cool. So fusion power could be only 10 years away.

It’s been only 10 years away for the last 50 years.

I wonder if it will ever become a reality, its not exactly easy is it

Cymek said:

party_pants said:

Dark Orange said:

Cool. So fusion power could be only 10 years away.

It’s been only 10 years away for the last 50 years.

I wonder if it will ever become a reality, its not exactly easy is it

It is easy if you happen to be a sun.

Dark Orange said:

party_pants said:

Dark Orange said:

Cool. So fusion power could be only 10 years away.

It’s been only 10 years away for the last 50 years.

K

roughbarked said:

Cymek said:

party_pants said:

It’s been only 10 years away for the last 50 years.

I wonder if it will ever become a reality, its not exactly easy is it

It is easy if you happen to be a sun.

roughbarked said:

Cymek said:

party_pants said:

It’s been only 10 years away for the last 50 years.

I wonder if it will ever become a reality, its not exactly easy is it

It is easy if you happen to be a sun.

… or if you have access to some of the energy emitted by one.

>above 100 million degrees Celsius

That sounds very hurty hot.

Bubblecar said:

>above 100 million degrees Celsius

That sounds very hurty hot.

The temperature of the Sun’s core is only 15 million degrees Celsius.

> a new world record for high-temperature sustained plasma with the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) device, reaching an ion temperature of above 100 million degrees Celsius (180 million degrees Fahrenheit) for a period of 20 seconds.

And for fusion, 20 seconds is a very long time.

mollwollfumble said:

Bubblecar said:

>above 100 million degrees Celsius

That sounds very hurty hot.

The temperature of the Sun’s core is only 15 million degrees Celsius.

> a new world record for high-temperature sustained plasma with the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) device, reaching an ion temperature of above 100 million degrees Celsius (180 million degrees Fahrenheit) for a period of 20 seconds.

And for fusion, 20 seconds is a very long time.

20 seconds is big, the difference of the energy you put in and what you get out is the biggie.

Peak Warming Man said:

mollwollfumble said:

Bubblecar said:

>above 100 million degrees Celsius

That sounds very hurty hot.

The temperature of the Sun’s core is only 15 million degrees Celsius.

> a new world record for high-temperature sustained plasma with the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) device, reaching an ion temperature of above 100 million degrees Celsius (180 million degrees Fahrenheit) for a period of 20 seconds.

And for fusion, 20 seconds is a very long time.

20 seconds is big, the difference of the energy you put in and what you get out is the biggie.

Is that the initial energy to start the process and if all goes according to plan it becomes self sustaining as long as you fed it fuel