Chinese scientists have set a stunning new scientific record, generating a steady magnetic field 700,000 times the strength of Earth’s using a superconducting magnet.
The feat was announced by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Plasma Physics, reflecting a leap in magnetic and fusion technology that may be key to future energy innovations.
The magnetic field, created with a fully superconducting magnet, measured a world-leading 351,000 gauss.
This result exceeds the previous record by a significant margin, marking China’s emergence as a frontrunner in the pursuit of practical fusion energy and next-generation magnet applications.
What Is the Significance of the Magnet Record?
Setting a new world record at 351,000 gauss puts Chinese research teams at the forefront of global efforts in fusion magnet development. Only a handful of labs have approached this magnitude, and a stable magnetic field of such intensity opens new doors for controlled fusion and scientific experimentation.
The milestone signals that China is rapidly narrowing the technology gap to lead in fusion energy. It demonstrates that advanced magnet engineering and sustained operation under extreme conditions are achievable, even as global competition intensifies for dominance in clean energy solutions.
Did you know?
China’s EAST tokamak sustained plasma for over 1,000 seconds in January 2025, tripling its previous record and setting a global benchmark for fusion duration.
How Did Scientists Engineer a 351,000 Gauss Magnetic Field?
The Chinese magnet employs a unique, coaxial design that combines high-temperature superconducting insert coils with low-temperature superconducting magnets.
This configuration enables the system to achieve ultra-high fields while maintaining stability, a crucial requirement for real-world fusion applications.
Researchers operated the magnet at 35.1 tesla (351,000 gauss) for thirty minutes before controlled demagnetization, confirming the machine’s reliability even in demanding test environments.
Collaboration with the Hefei International Applied Superconductivity Center and Tsinghua University improved both coil quality and engineering safety, raising Chinese magnet standards to match the world’s best.
Why Are Powerful Magnets Vital for Fusion?
Magnetic confinement is central to fusion reactors, where extreme magnetic fields create a “magnetic cage” that contains hot plasma, allowing ions to fuse efficiently. Powerful, stable magnets are vital for sustaining reactions and ensuring operational safety.
This is why most global fusion designs rely heavily on continuous advances in magnet science.
China’s breakthrough is also directly relevant to the ITER international fusion project, as China’s delivery of superconducting components shows its influence and technological strength.
According to researchers, such magnets are also suitable for broader applications, such as space propulsion and advanced electricity transmission.
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How Is China Advancing Fusion Research vs. Other Nations?
China’s investment in fusion now exceeds $1.5 billion annually, nearly twice the amount spent by the U.S. public. With more graduates specializing in fusion technology, China is cultivating extensive human and industrial capacity. Its efforts mimic approaches that led to dominance in solar panel and EV manufacturing.
While Western competitors retain advantages in private fusion startups and specialized components such as low-temperature cryogenics, China’s integrated approach pairing state support with manufacturing scale poses a challenge to slower commercialization cycles seen elsewhere.
What Are the Future Applications of This Technology?
Beyond fusion, the new magnet can be repurposed for space electromagnetic propulsion, magnetic levitation trains, and next-gen power grids.
Its reliability in sustaining extreme magnetic fields positions China to drive more global technology agendas where energy and material science converge.
Researchers highlight the roles of these magnets in high-energy physics, precision medicine, and advanced materials, making the breakthrough's impact broad and multi-sectoral.
With emerging supply chains for alloy production and thin-film technologies, China is poised to leverage its scientific success into economic and security gains more quickly than many of its rivals.
China’s magnetic field record has placed its fusion efforts at the forefront of scientific achievement.
Future global collaboration and rapid application of such technologies may decisively shape the race for clean, reliable, and scalable energy.
China’s labs are currently developing the next generation of fusion infrastructure and high-tech industries.
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