⁠China’s artificial sun sets record with 100-million-degree heat for 18 minutes: Netizens troll, ‘That’s playing with fire’

China's 'artificial sun' recently set a record by maintaining a temperature of 100 million degrees for 18 minutes. That's hotter than your coffee and most likely your temper when the Wi-Fi is slow. Scientists out there are acting as cosmic cooks, creating a little sun on Earth while we're having trouble with the thermostat. We may have sunny days even while it's pouring if the trend continues — just remember to wear sunscreen!

The 'artificial sun,' also known as the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), conducted a ground-breaking experiment. China has been working to develop nuclear fusion technology in an effort to mimic the sun's power on Earth, and the EAST has achieved a feat by sustaining plasma for over 17 minutes, or 1,000 seconds, breaking its previous record for plasma confinement.

The milestone reflects a major advancement for this new fusion energy research, which breaks the previous record of 403 seconds achieved few years ago. Nuclear fusion, the mechanism that powers the EAST, has been long heralded as the "holy grail" of power generation, and the best way to achieve sustainable energy.

China’s 'artificial sun' could be a step closer for the world toward infinite clean energy, or at least a new excuse to blame when the AC mysteriously stops working in summer. Let’s just hope they don’t accidentally toast the planet while they’re at it!

Meanwhile, social media has greeted the news with a memefest. A user, @shane wood, quipped on X:

"That's playing with fire"

The observation, though made in jest, draws attention to the fact that scientists are actually playing with fire — burning energy only to keep things hot. Netizens are obviously having a great time. When scientists spend energy to keep something sizzling for 1,000 seconds, they are obviously literally toying with fire!

It's something like attempting to maintain a bonfire on a windy day — only, if used properly, this fire could fuel the world's future. If they continue in this direction, they may soon be selling tickets to the "world's hottest backyard BBQ," where the rules of physics might be the only thing being cooked.

Not to mention that we might all soon be residing in homes powered by fusion if they are able to crack this issue. Imagine living in a future where your coffee maker is essentially a miniature star, your refrigerator is powered by plasma, and your toaster is powered by the sun.

The drawback? In order to tolerate the intense light, you'll most likely need to wear sunglasses indoors. For now, let us walk you through how netizens have reacted t the news.

Here's how netizens have reacted as ⁠China’s artificial sun sets record with 100-million-degree heat for 18 minutes

User @mscode doesn't seem convinced about reason for the breakthrough:

"Reason behind the need for creating this sun?"

Another user, @Exolorian, echoed the sentiment:

"Artificial sun? For what?"

@James wrote:

"Not sure if I could trust a sun that’s got ‘Made in China’ printed on the back"

Another X user, @jacob_w_palmer, expressed:

"If China can keep an artificial sun that hot for so long what excuse do we have for not advancing in clean energy?"

X user @Sebastian Daniel had a witty one:

"I wonder who made our sun.."

Another netizen, @JeebsTX, commented:

"China has copied the Sun as well"

A user identified as @Fire & Dirt expressed:

"Ah, so it’s China causing that global warming eh?"

Another netizen, who identifies as 'nothing.' (@Nikolaj_Nobody), commented:

"Wew crazy they just gonna dump water on that and create steam"

@FreqSync wrote:

"Bro what? These guys got their own sun now?"

Another user, @Vlad, expressed:

"Sounds like they set one of their fireworks factories on fire."

User @Raghuveer said:

"Rarely a Chinese product goes this far"

Another netizen, @ChristasKing, expressed:

"And a sun was on Earth…"

There were many more funny ones, from speculations that China would now pour water on the 'artificial sun' and turn it into a gigantic steam engine, to a comment that China has now formally patented sunlight! The internet is obviously having a gala time with this one.

Ultimately, even though the jokes continue to come, China may just built the world's most ambitious space heater yet.

Keep reading SoapCentral for more humorous content!