In January 2026, researchers at the **Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)** officially set a new world record by developing an all-superconducting user magnet that produces a steady magnetic field of **35.6 Tesla**.
To put that into perspective, this field is more than **700,000 times stronger** than the Earth’s natural magnetic field (which averages about 0.00005 Tesla).
## The Breakthrough: 35.6 Tesla
This achievement took place at the **Synergetic Extreme Condition User Facility (SECUF)** in Beijing. While China previously set a record for a "hybrid" magnet (45.22 Tesla in 2022), this new 35.6 Tesla record is specifically for an **all-superconducting** magnet.
### Why "All-Superconducting" Matters
Most ultra-powerful magnets are "hybrids," meaning they use a mix of superconducting coils and traditional resistive coils. Resistive coils require massive amounts of electricity and water cooling to function.
* **Energy Efficiency:** Because this new magnet is "all-superconducting," it operates with **zero electrical resistance**, meaning it consumes far less energy and can maintain a stable field for much longer periods.
* **Stability:** This stability is crucial for "user magnets"—tools designed to be used by scientists for delicate, long-term experiments.
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## Comparison of Magnetic Strengths
To understand just how powerful 35.6 Tesla is, here is how it compares to other common magnetic fields:
| Source | Magnetic Field (Approximate) |
| --- | --- |
| **Earth's Magnetic Field** | 0.00005 Tesla |
| **Refrigerator Magnet** | 0.005 Tesla |
| **Standard Medical MRI** | 1.5 – 3.0 Tesla |
| **New Chinese Record (All-Superconducting)** | **35.6 Tesla** |
| **China's Hybrid Magnet Record (2022)** | 45.22 Tesla |
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## What will it be used for?
High-magnetic-field environments allow scientists to manipulate the properties of matter at the atomic and molecular levels. This breakthrough is expected to accelerate research in:
* **Materials Science:** Finding new superconductors that work at higher temperatures.
* **Life Sciences:** High-resolution imaging of biological structures.
* **Nuclear Fusion:** Helping to confine the plasma in "Artificial Sun" reactors (Tokamaks) more efficiently.
* **Condensed Matter Physics:** Observing new physical phenomena that only appear under extreme magnetic pressure.
The research team, led by the Institute of Electrical Engineering and the Institute of Physics, has already stated that their next goal is to push the technology even further to reach **40 Tesla**.
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