Chinese scientists produced a steady magnetic field of 42.02 Tesla with a resistive magnet, or water-cooled magnet, on Sunday, setting a new world record for magnets of the type.

The new powerful magnet was developed by the High Magnetic Field Laboratory of Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The previous record of a resistive magnet, 41.4 Tesla, was set by the United States' National High Magnetic Laboratory in 2017.

High magnetic field is an extreme experimental condition required for material science research and a powerful tool for major scientific discoveries, according to Kuang Guangli, academic director of the Hefei laboratory. 

For decades, scientists around the world have achieved significant discoveries under high magnetic fields, with more than 10 such scientific achievements winning Nobel Prizes.

There are three types of steady-state magnets: resistive magnets, superconducting magnets, and hybrid magnets—the combination of the two.

The Hefei laboratory produced a steady field of 45.22 Tesla with a hybrid magnet in 2022, setting a world record of all working magnets.

Resistive magnets are the earliest high-field magnets used by scientists, with flexible and fast magnetic field control. Up to now, they can still generate magnetic fields far higher than superconducting magnets.

"Resistive magnets and superconducting magnets are both'singles masters', while a hybrid magnet is'mixed-doubles combinations'," said Kuang, making a comparison between magnet development and table tennis.

"In 2022, we won the mixed doubles championship with comprehensive advantages. Today, we won a singles," he said.