Today’s superconductors typically work only when cooled to incredibly low temperatures. Kiyoshi Takatani Segundo / Alamy Stock Photo
It may be unfair to call this the Philosopher’s Stone, but there is something fascinating about the search for room-temperature superconductors. This material can transmit electricity completely without resistance. Procuring renewable energy in places where it is abundant and efficiently delivering it to far-flung cities could make a significant contribution to solving the climate crisis.
It’s no wonder, then, that last year the world of physics went into a frenzy when not one but two such substances were allegedly discovered. In March 2023, researchers reported a substance known as the “red substance”, which is said to work at temperatures as high as 21°C (70°F), albeit under incredible pressure. A few weeks later, news broke about another substance called LK-99, which apparently works at both room temperature and ambient pressure. Unfortunately, all that glitters is not gold. Both claims are now widely rejected.
But the fuss surrounding these studies obscures a more nuanced and interesting truth. Extensive research in pursuit of practical superconductors is proceeding at a rapid pace, and there is a sense that the search is finally turning a corner. The past few years have seen breakthroughs beyond experimentation, and theorists have honed a wealth of methods for predicting the composition of new superconducting materials from scratch. “People my age will remember when it really was…
Source: www.newscientist.com
