The Chinese announced they have successfully performed a fusion reaction at an experimental fusion reactor. The test resulted in production of a hot cloud of supercharged particles.

Fusion is the reaction that powers the sun and science has long believed that if this reaction could be controlled, it would result in an energy source that was clean and potentially limitless. The reaction creates very little radioactive waste as opposed to fission reactions, which currently power today's nuclear reactors.

China also is a partner in the seven-nation consortium in Cadarache, France, which is working to develop this technology. Other scientists expressed admiration and support for the achievements announced by China.