Room temperature superconductors?

Hope dies as last

Dr. Pascal Puphal and Prof. Bernhard Keimer from the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research were recently interviewed for the radio show "Wissenschaft im Brennpunkt". In an episode entitled "Die Hoffnung stirbt zuletzt," the show delves into the recent excitement surrounding LK99, a material from South Korea that was initially hailed as a room-temperature superconductor. Such a discovery would revolutionize energy transmission and technology by eliminating the need for cooling in superconductors.

However, skepticism arose as researchers attempted to replicate the results, ultimately finding that LK99 does not exhibit superconducting properties. The episode also discusses the broader challenges in superconductor research, highlighting past false claims and the ongoing quest for materials that can operate as superconductors at room temperature.

Despite setbacks, the potential transformative impact on technology and energy continues to drive this research forward.