KSTAR Achieves Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough

Recently, the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) attained temperatures over 100 million degrees Celsius in a reaction that lasted for about 30 seconds.

• KSTAR - also known as the Korean artificial sun - is a nuclear fusion reactor developed by researchers at the Seoul National University in South Korea.
• Nuclear fusion is defined as the combining of several small nuclei into one large nucleus with the subsequent release of huge amounts of energy. It is the same process that powers the stars, including our Sun.

Significance: The findings assume great significance because although scientists have managed to reach such temperature levels before, this is the longest they have been able to sustain it. This development points towards the possibility of unlimited clean energy.