At the end of July, scientists in South Korea announced the development of a superconductor that could be used for general use. What have other studies shown?
Superconductors are materials that conduct electricity without any resistance, which is supposed to allow the transmission of electricity without losses. The problem is that the ones that function today require extremely low temperatures, which prevents them from being widely used.
LK-99 a superconductor?
Researchers at Korea University announced in July that they had obtained a superconducting material that does not require extremely low temperatures, but is expected to work up to 127℃. and that at normal atmospheric pressure. That would be a gigantic technological breakthrough.
The material, known as LK-99, would become superconducting and remain so at room temperature. LK-99 is a mixture of powdered compounds containing lead, oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus. The Koreans’ invention would be the first to overcome barriers related to temperature.
Research does not confirm
In response to their discovery, scientists around the world conducted their own trials to replicate and test the material’s properties. As it turns out, none of the attempts to replicate Korean researchers’ results to date yielded evidence of any superconductivity.
The conclusion that the LK-99 material is most likely not a superconductor was reached by a committee of South Korean scientists who reviewed published data from the LK-99 team.
Physicists from India also came to similar conclusions. In turn, Chinese researchers who recreated the material concluded that they had not discovered zero resistance to electric current at room temperature.
British scientists also found no superconductivity in their sample, as did an international team of scientists from Princeton University.
Unusual magnet?
Physicists at Peking University have determined that the new material is not a superconductor, but may be an unusual magnet.
Large research centers such as the Argonne National Laboratory in the United States are still conducting their analysis.
Too early to make a final assessment
It should be noted that at this stage, the members of the verification committee cannot unequivocally reject the claims that LK-99 is a superconductor. For the final decision, the opinions of experts on the original sample from the creators of this material are needed.
It could then be delivered to several independent laboratories for extensive testing. In addition, efforts to synthesize LK-99 have already begun in three different laboratories, which will also conduct tests.
Source: Do Rzeczy
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
