Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: WION
Context: Scientists in South Korea have achieved a new world record in nuclear fusion, sustaining temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius, seven times hotter than the sun’s core.
- This feat, conducted using the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research device (KSTAR), aims to replicate the fusion reaction powering stars to unlock clean, limitless energy.
- The experiment involved fusing atoms to release massive energy without carbon emissions, crucial for addressing climate change.
- KSTAR sustained these high temperatures for 48 seconds, breaking the previous record of 30 seconds. To achieve this, scientists used tungsten instead of carbon in the reactor’s “diverters” to extract impurities and heat.
- Their goal is to sustain these temperatures for at least 300 seconds by 2026, critical for scaling up fusion operations.
This research will contribute to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in France, aiding in advancing fusion energy commercialization.
