New Delhi, Oct. 16 -- China has introduced a revolutionary plasma jet engine that could reshape the future of aviation. Developed by a research team at Wuhan University, the engine runs without fossil fuels, hydrogen, or batteries marking a major step toward zero-emissions flight.

The technology, led by Professor Jau Tang, uses microwave energy and plasma physics instead of combustion. Unlike traditional jet engines that burn kerosene, this new system compresses atmospheric air and bombards it with 2.45 GHz microwave radiation similar to the frequency used in kitchen microwaves. The radiation strips electrons from air molecules, creating plasma. This ionized gas is then used to produce thrust, effectively powering the engine without any ...