To create the conditions needed for fusion reactions, tokamak reactors contain a plasma in magnetic fields. These magnetic fields can contain tubular areas called magnetic islands. Plasma particles move extra quickly across these islands. This prevents the plasma from reaching the high temperatures necessary for fusion energy production. Fusion plants must therefore minimize the size of these regions. For the first time, researchers have observed the spontaneous formation of a structure in the plasma with multiple magnetic islands. Known as "heteroclinic islands," they do not merge into each other while embedded in a larger magnetic field tube. These structures form areas of higher temperatures at each island center that are directly observed by local measurements. Additional measurements of the magnetic field perturbation caused by these special island chains further confirm their existence in experiments and are consistent with simulation results.