this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2025
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France runs fusion reactor for record 22 minutes (newatlas.com)
submitted 2 days ago by OutForARip@lemmy.ca to c/world@quokk.au
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France has upped the ante in the quest for fusion power by maintaining a plasma reaction for over 22 minutes – a new record. The milestone was reached on February 12 at the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA) WEST Tokamak reactor.

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[–] Kraiden@kbin.earth 24 points 2 days ago (3 children)

The CEA seems to have done considerably better than 10 seconds and gone 25% beyond what China achieved in January 2025 with 1,066 seconds. In the latest test, the WEST Tokamak held its reaction for 1,337 seconds.

It's the very next paragraph... not to mention the very FIRST paragraph...

France has upped the ante in the quest for fusion power by maintaining a plasma reaction for over 22 minutes

What more do you want?

edit: The article talks about a sustained plasma reaction, not a fusion reaction. I agree that this could have been made clearer. Even in quoting it, I missed that

[–] CMLVI@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago

There is an influx of "this isn't the final result, therefore it's irrelevant" shit going on here and I don't like it. Across subjects. People would seemingly prefer radio silence over any information at all...it's astounding to me.

"Don't report on it until you have a commercially viable fusion reactor, this is just filler" filler these nuts nerd, I want to read about fusion reaction advancements.

[–] usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I think they're trying to say that this reactor sustained a plasma reaction, but not a fusion one. By describing fusion and then talking about this successful test without outlining the difference, it makes the test seem more successful than it was.

[–] Kraiden@kbin.earth 2 points 2 days ago

Thanks, you're right. I missed that.

[–] BlackLaZoR@fedia.io 0 points 2 days ago (2 children)

The CEA seems to have done considerably better than 10 seconds

Dude, did you even read my post? I'm talking about temperature, not time

[–] Kraiden@kbin.earth 9 points 2 days ago

The temperature, and pressure are the conditions for a self sustaining fusion reaction. The fact that they maintained a fusion reaction for ANY length of time would imply that, yes, they reached those temperatures and pressures...

Your argument is essentially that the article is talking about how long they ran a steam engine, but that it doesn't say that achieved water boiling temperatures.

edit: @usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca has done a better job of explaining your issue. I missed that the article talks about a sustained plasma reaction, not a fusion reaction, which is subtle enough that I think I can be forgiven for missing your point. Especially since, at the end of the day, I'm just a layman.

Having a look at the source article here shows that you're correct, it was only 50 million celcius.

I've actually changed my mind, and I agree with you that that is misleading and the article author could have done a better job at making clear that, while this is still an impressive milestone, no fusion reaction took place.

[–] subignition@fedia.io 5 points 2 days ago

Lol what's your problem? Do you think the article is making claims about temperatures reached? Don't insult others' reading skills when you're not using your own.