Superconductors are substances through which electricity flows unimpeded. This zero-resistance flow is often impossible unless materials are lowered to sub-zero temperatures, or, their critical temperature.
However, in a paper published on October 14th by nature, scientists have developed a compound through which room temperature superconductivity is possible.
The need to supercool metals to reach their critical temperature has kept superconductor use limited. And, while this experiment was conducted under extremely high pressures, it moves the use of superconductive materials one step closer to reality.
The successful compound consists of hydrogen, sulfur, and carbon, squeezed between two diamonds while lasers induced a chemical reaction. The material can superconduct in temperatures up to 58°F (13.3°C). Previous high-temperatures ranged from -9.7° F to 8° F.
Room temperature superconductors would change our electric grid, allowing lossless flow of power. They could also affect current technologies, allowing faster electronics without the fear of overheating, power levitating trains for rapid transportation, and improve Magnetic Resonance Imaging machines, or MRIs.
For further information on this revolutionary advance, you can see the paper here.
