Fifty years ago, superconductors were heating up

The headline of a Science News article on March 16, 1974, proclaimed: "Superconductors are on the increase."

The aspect of certain metals becoming void of any electrical resistance is referred to as Superconductivity. The possible technological applications of this phenomenon would be tremendous if not for the need for extreme cooling. All superconductors possess a transition temperature above which they lose their superconducting ability and revert to being normal conductors, with the majority of these transition temperatures being close to absolute zero. However, researchers have been finding metals with increased transition temperatures.

The trend of rising transition temperatures has continued into the 21st century. In 2018, physicists shared the discovery of a lanthanum and hydrogen combination exhibiting superconductivity signs up until almost −20° Celsius when under severe pressure. This set a new record for transition temperatures among superconductors. However, the rigorous conditions of extreme pressure and low temperatures make these materials unsuitable for broader applications. Hence, the quest continues for a material able to exhibit superconductivity at room temperature and closer to normal pressure. A recent disproved claim from 2023 for such a material has prompted some in the scientific community to push for fresh protocols to confirm superconductivity.