In a groundbreaking blend of advanced technology and sports tradition, China made history by collecting and igniting the "source flame" for the 15th National Games directly from combustible ice on the South China Sea floor.

The flame, retrieved from a depth of 1,522 meters, was unveiled Thursday in Guangzhou, south China, marking a significant advancement in deep-sea energy technology.

Sky-sea interconnection

The monumental task was completed using a method called "sky-sea interconnection," which relied on China's advanced, domestically produced marine technology.

A deep-sea robot named "Haima" (Seahorse) collected the ice with a specialized mechanical arm, then placed it in a chamber where it was decomposed, releasing methane gas. Then came the most innovative step.

The solar panels on the mothership converted sunlight into electricity, which was then transmitted via a cable down to the robot. The electricity was then used to ignite the methane gas, resulting in the successful production of the "source flame."

This complex technological feat turns national deep-sea research into a public symbol.

What exactly is combustible ice?

It's not ordinary ice. It's the common term for natural gas hydrate, a crystalline solid formed when methane gas and water combine under high pressure and low temperature deep beneath the ocean floor.

It's an extremely clean and powerful energy source. One cubic meter of this ice can produce up to 164 cubic meters of methane gas.

It is often considered one of the most promising clean energy alternatives of the 21st century.