China launches international program to advance 'artificial sun' research

China launched an international science program on fusion burning plasma and released its research plan for the compact fusion experimental device, the Burning Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak (BEST), in east China's Anhui Province on November 24, marking a significant step toward developing "artificial sun" technology.  

Nuclear fusion, which mimics the sun's fusion process to generate energy, has been praised as the ultimate clean energy source. As China's new "artificial sun," the BEST device aims to achieve burning plasma and a net energy gain. According to the plan, the facility will be completed by the end of 2027 and will target 20–200 megawatts of fusion power to demonstrate fusion-based electricity generation.