A Washington-based company, Quantum Kinetics Corporation (QKC), has reportedly achieved a groundbreaking feat in nuclear fusion by reaching plasma fusion temperatures of 392 million degrees Fahrenheit (equivalent to 18 keV X-rays) sustained over a 24-hour period. This achievement was verified through third-party, peer-reviewed experiments conducted with radioactive wastewater, marking a record in nuclear fusion research. The previous temperature record for sustained fusion, set by the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Reactor (KSTAR) in April 2024, held at 105 million degrees Celsius for just 48 seconds. QKC’s innovative modular reactor has far surpassed that mark, establishing new benchmarks for fusion research.
Randal Bird, QKC’s newly appointed vice president, described the results as “extraordinary,” noting the formation of elements such as boron, potassium, and magnesium alongside thorium, lead, and tungsten products of the fusion process. Bird also confirmed that during the experiment, uranium isotopes 234, 235, and 238 were successfully cracked, forming part of QKC’s new “Safe Nuclear Systems” framework.
The company’s CEO, Riley Lee, announced a platform called Electro-Physical Transmutation (E-PT), designed for used nuclear fuel (UNF) remediation. This system reportedly enables QKC’s reactors to reach fusion temperatures from 11.6 million to 200 million degrees Celsius, creating synthetic Aurora Borealis-type quantum events. QKC claims this patented process could transform the nuclear industry by offering a safe, scalable solution for legacy nuclear waste management and clean energy production.
QKC’s focus now turns to applied quantum physics and commercial fusion, seeking to lead with their “Safe Nuclear” innovations. Their breakthrough, which resembles the cooling behavior of a stabilizing cosmological star, is expected to address critical global energy challenges with unprecedented clean energy potential. The company projects further advancements in “Safe Nuclear” technology, establishing scalable frameworks to redefine nuclear fusion for future generations.