science · 3 outlets · 3 linked reports
Fusion Records Tumble: Korea's Reactor Holds 100-Million-Degree Plasma for 102 Seconds
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Summary
- South Korea's KSTAR tokamak held plasma at 100 million °C for a record 102 seconds in February 2026 — more than doubling its previous 48-second mark, verified by the IAEA.
- China's EAST 'artificial sun' separately broke a long-standing plasma-density barrier, removing a key obstacle on the path to ignition.
- Private efforts advanced too: Helion's Polaris prototype reached 150 million °C and began deuterium-tritium shots, as fusion milestones accelerate.
The question
Fusion is progressing fast enough to become a practical power source within our lifetimes.
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