China is experimenting with an “artificial sun,” dubbed Experiential Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), to make way for clean energy in the future. The setup mimics nuclear reactions taking place inside the sun, where hydrogen and deuterium gases are used as fuel. It was designed to potentially be used as a near-limitless supply of clean energy on Earth, the Xinhua News Agency reports. The ultimate aim of developing the artificial sun device is to deliver near-limitless clean energy by mimicking the natural reactions occurring within stars. There, extreme heat and gravity turn hydrogen atoms into helium. The process releases energy which then radiates out into the solar system. For many years, scientists have tried to recreate nuclear fusion on Earth. Instead, the artificial suns being created today are nuclear fusion reactors. A tokamak is a machine that confines a plasma using magnetic fields in a donut shape that scientists call a torus. In a tokamak, magnetic field coils confine plasma particles to allow the plasma to achieve the conditions necessary for fusion. Generally, sunlight is best for plant growth, since artificial lights cannot replicate the specific colors of light (wavelengths) that are optimal for plants. However, artificial lights can work well to supplement sunlight, especially during winter or where sufficient sunlight is unavailable. A new record has been set by the Chinese 'artificial sun' or the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST) fusion energy reactor in Hefei as it ran at 70 million°C) for 1,056 seconds, which is over 17 minutes. The record was apparently achieved on December 30.

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