Scientists Find ‘limitless’ Energy Source That Could Sustain A Nation For 60,000 Years

Scientists have uncovered an energy source so vast that it has the potential to power an entire country for an astonishing 60,000 years.

Despite how long humans have been exploring and studying the Earth, researchers are still making groundbreaking discoveries about its hidden resources. This latest find, made in China, could change the future of energy production forever.

According to a recently declassified study published in the Chinese journal Geological Review, the country may have far more of a specific radioactive metal than experts previously estimated. If properly harnessed, it could provide a cleaner and more efficient power source than anything currently available.

Scientists have discovered a 'limitless' energy source Pallava Bagla/Corbis via Getty Images

If you haven’t heard of thorium before, it’s a silvery, radioactive metal with extraordinary potential. According to Interesting Engineering, thorium can generate up to 200 times more energy than uranium, making it an incredibly powerful energy source.

What makes thorium even more appealing is its environmental benefits. Unlike uranium, which produces large amounts of radioactive waste, thorium molten-salt reactors generate almost none. Plus, they don’t require water cooling, which makes them safer and more sustainable.

China’s new findings suggest that this metal could be hiding in massive quantities within mining waste. In fact, just one mining complex alone is estimated to contain nearly one million tonnes of thorium, highlighting the scale of this untapped energy source.

With such vast reserves, some experts believe the Bayan Obo mining complex alone could generate enough energy to sustain China for the next 60,000 years.

Fan Honghai, the lead researcher from the National Key Laboratory of Uranium Resource Exploration-Mining and Nuclear Remote Sensing in Beijing, emphasized the significance of the discovery, stating: "These thorium resources in tailings remain totally untouched."

Meanwhile, a Beijing-based geologist, who requested anonymity, told the South China Morning Post: "For over a century, nations have been engaging in wars over fossil fuels. It turns out the endless energy source lies right under our feet."

The find could power China for 60,000 years Getty Stock Image

While the potential of thorium is exciting, actually extracting and refining it is no easy task. The process requires massive amounts of acid and energy, making it both costly and technically challenging.

On top of that, concerns have been raised about the risks associated with thorium. Some worry about how the extracted metal will be used, and whether it could have unintended consequences if not properly managed.

Government officials are now under pressure to develop a strategy that ensures thorium is used responsibly and efficiently, without opening the door to dangerous or unethical applications.

There is also speculation that thorium by-products could potentially be weaponized, although experts have assured that the metal itself is not suitable for nuclear weaponry.

Addressing these concerns, Honghai added: "The demand for thorium in nuclear power and nuclear propulsion sectors has brought significant opportunities and challenges to the exploration and exploitation of thorium resources in China."

While researchers have attempted to estimate the full extent of China’s thorium reserves, the exact figures remain classified for national security reasons. For now, the world is left wondering just how much power is waiting beneath the surface.