The prospect of a nuclear fusion energy based on the power of the Sun and stars has received a boost after scientists set a world record for the amount of energy created by fusing atoms together.

Researchers at the Joint European Torus (Jet), an experimental fusion reactor at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy in Oxfordshire, generated 69 megajoules of energy over five seconds from a mere 0.2 milligrams of fuel in the final fusion experiment performed at the facility.

Eurofusion, an umbrella organisation for fusion laboratories around Europe, said these notable accomplishments represent a significant milestone in the field of fusion science and engineering.

Eurofusion said Jet, one of the world’s largest and most powerful fusion machines, has demonstrated the ability to reliably generate fusion energy.