How Superconductors Will Transform Technology

Potentially the greatest physics discovery of my lifetime was announced today, the first room-temperature, ambient pressure superconductor. While the study is yet to be replicated and fully reviewed, it would dramatically transform our economy if it is the real deal. Here are 6 transformative impacts: 1. Energy Efficiency: An estimated 100 billion kWh of electricity is lost to transmission inefficiencies annually in the US. Superconductivity at ambient temperature could significantly minimize these losses due to its potential for lossless electricity transmission at high voltages and currents. 2. Accessibility: The discovery of the LK-99 material, which can be prepared in roughly 34 hours using standard lab equipment, means that these results could be reproduced relatively quickly, potentially within weeks. 3. Nuclear Fusion: Superconductors are integral to plasma confinement in nuclear fusion reactors. Currently, we rely on RBCO/YBCO superconductors, which need to be cooled with LN2 or Liquid Helium, resulting in temperature-related challenges. Ambient superconductors could introduce new possibilities for reactor design. 4. Quantum Computing: Superconductors help maintain coherence in qubits, a fundamental aspect of quantum computers. A slight variation in temperature or pressure can compromise the entire system. The prospect of an ambient temperature superconductor could make room temperature quantum computing a reality. 5. Energy Storage: Superconductors could transform energy storage methods by maintaining current in a coil until it's required, which was previously cost-prohibitive due to temperature constraints. 6. Electronics: Imagine devices that run efficiently without the risk of overheating. Superconductors could pave the way for ultra-efficient computer chips with zero resistive losses, eliminating the need for cooling fans. Common Applications: Superconductors could significantly reduce the cost of MRI machines, enable widespread use of MagLev trains, and contribute to a super-efficient electric grid. To learn more about this potential game-changer, you can refer to the full study here: https://lnkd.in/gJQYF3xk While this discovery presents remarkable potential, it is prudent to approach it with cautious optimism, acknowledging the necessary rigorous testing and validation processes that lie ahead.

The search for a room-temperature superconductor remains one of the most exciting frontiers in physics, and a new study suggests it is not just possible—it is inevitable. By examining the fundamental constants of the universe, researchers conclude that nothing in physics prohibits the existence of a material that can superconduct at standard atmospheric conditions. The Science Behind the Dream • Superconductors exhibit zero electrical resistance, allowing electricity to flow without energy loss. • Traditional superconductors require extremely low temperatures, often near absolute zero. • The study finds that upper limits of phonon frequencies—which influence superconducting behavior—suggest a maximum critical temperature (Tc) between 100 and 1000 Kelvin (-280 to 1340°F). Breakthroughs and Setbacks • The 1980s discovery of high-temperature superconductors (such as copper oxides) showed promise but still required cryogenic cooling. • Recent claims of room-temperature superconductors, including LK-99 and hydrogen-based materials, have been controversial and difficult to replicate. • This new study suggests scientists are on the right track, but the challenge is identifying the right material structure. Why a Room-Temperature Superconductor Would Change Everything • Lossless energy transmission, dramatically increasing power grid efficiency. • Revolutionary advancements in quantum computing, enabling faster, more stable systems. • Magnetically levitating trains and ultra-efficient motors, transforming transportation. What’s Next? • Materials scientists will continue exploring new compounds that match the predicted superconducting parameters. • AI and machine learning could accelerate material discovery, pinpointing previously unknown superconducting candidates. • If realized, a room-temperature superconductor could be one of the greatest breakthroughs in modern physics, reshaping energy, computing, and transportation for generations to come. For now, the dream is very much alive—and physics suggests it’s only a matter of time before we find the material that makes it a reality.

Just outside Seoul, in a quiet tech park lined with cherry blossoms and glass buildings, a new vehicle hovers silently over the pavement. It doesn’t touch the road. It doesn’t need rails. And most incredibly — it doesn’t burn a drop of fuel. This is the world’s first fully functional urban Superconductor Glide Pod, and it could change how entire cities move. Developed by a South Korean startup working in partnership with KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology), this sleek pod uses quantum levitation — harnessing superconducting magnets cooled with liquid nitrogen to float above a special alloy surface. Unlike traditional maglev trains, this system doesn’t require expensive rail infrastructure. It can glide along thin embedded panels, turning ordinary roads into silent, frictionless highways. Jiyoon Park, one of the lead engineers, described her first test ride as “unsettling — like stepping into the future and realizing the past just vanished beneath you.” The pod made no sound. No bump. No vibration. Only air rushing past the window. Today’s traffic-choked, gas-guzzling cars feel like a bad habit by comparison. The prototype can reach speeds of up to 120 km/h while using 70% less energy than an electric bus. And since it doesn’t touch the road, there’s no tire wear, no emissions, and no brake dust polluting city air. Testing continues in limited city zones, but by 2028, Korea hopes to begin replacing shuttle buses in major districts with these gliding pods. It’s not science fiction anymore. The future is just… quieter. #RMScienceTechInvest

Scientists are edging closer to creating limitless, carbon-free energy by making fusion reactors practical, thanks to a breakthrough in superconducting materials. Fusion reactors mimic the sun by heating plasma—a superhot gas of charged particles—to about 180 million degrees Fahrenheit so atomic nuclei can fuse and release massive energy. The challenge has been keeping that plasma stable and contained long enough for a sustainable reaction. A team in the UK, along with MIT researchers and the commercial company Commonwealth Fusion Systems, developed a new superconductor material called REBCO. This rare-earth barium copper oxide ceramic can carry huge electric currents with no energy loss at much higher temperatures (around -424°F) than typical superconductors. That means cooling the magnets with liquid nitrogen is easier and more efficient, enabling more powerful, compact magnets for fusion reactors. This technology allows tokamaks—the doughnut-shaped fusion reactors—to hold plasma longer and more stably. It also helps magnets tolerate heat and radiation better, and can make reactors easier to maintain. The smaller, more efficient SPARC reactor based on REBCO superconductors could arrive decades before massive projects like ITER, making fusion energy more achievable. Still, obstacles remain, such as managing the extreme heat inside reactors and developing materials that withstand the fusion environment long-term. But with REBCO, the path to a working fusion power plant seems closer, possibly by 2040, offering a potentially limitless source of clean energy for the future.

HORIZON INNOVATION – SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND VERTICAL FARMING   When I met Prof. Anthony Leggett, #NobelPrize laureate in #Physics (2003), in Beijing, China in 2010 -- the idea of room-temperature #superconductivity was merely speculative. Since 2015, however, both theory and experiment have aligned unusually well such that the proof of principle is no longer in doubt. Further, #materials discovery for superconductivity has been accelerating dramatically using tools that did not exist before -- including AI-guided crystal structure prediction, high-throughput ab initio screening, and automated synthesis platforms, among others. Anthony Leggett’s contributions lie not in discovering a specific high-temperature or ambient-pressure superconductor -- but in providing the #theoretical #foundations and language to understand complex quantum condensates and pairing phenomena. Those insights continue to underpin current theory and materials discovery efforts aimed at achieving superconductivity closer to room temperature and atmospheric pressure. What’s more, the target today has shifted such that the goal is no longer “one magical room-temperature superconductor,” but rather a much more realistic superconductivity at: 🌟 250–300 K 🌟 At ≤ 1–10 GPa (industrial pressure) 🌟 Or 77–150 K but low-cost, robust, and scalable Such superconductivity would be a quiet revolution for #VerticalFarming because it addresses the three chronic pain points of vertical farms at once: energy cost, thermal management, and system scalability. The first superconducting vertical farms will not at all look outlandish, but will quietly achieve: 🌱 Massive reduction in electrical losses 🌱 Cooler farms, translating into cheaper climate control 🌱 Ultra-efficient lighting systems (the real game changer since lighting is the single largest energy sink in vertical farms) 🌱 Higher light intensities and lower kWh/kg (broadening crop types to be grown) 🌱 True urban megafarms (pushing too much power through a building today cannot be done without overheating and massive copper infrastructure) As for the projected timelines, the best expert consensus gives the following: 🌟 Incremental but practical progress (most likely) *10–15 years (200–250 K, moderate pressures at 1–10 GPa, or ambient pressure but with niche constraints) 🌟 Breakthrough via metastable hydrides or new pairing physics *15–30 years (ambient pressure, 250–300 K) 🌟 True “plug-and-play” room-temperature superconductors *30–50+ years (ambient pressure; robust, cheap, mass-manufacturable) PHOTO: Prof. Anthony Leggett and I were among invited Guest Speakers (with him serving as the keynote speaker) at the Environment-Enhancing Energy Forum on 15-17 August 2010 in #Beijing, #China. https://lnkd.in/gvb_i3uD The Nobel Prize Association for Vertical Farming University of Arizona

QUANTUM BREAKTHROUGH: We Just Cracked the Code on Room-Temperature Superconductors 🚨 Three years ago, my quantum computing professor told our class: "Simulating superconductors on quantum computers? Maybe in 20 years." Last month, our team (Tochukwu Godswill Nnamdi) proved him wrong. We just published research showing how hybrid quantum-classical algorithms can predict superconductor properties that have stumped scientists for DECADES. We're talking about materials that could: ❄️ Eliminate energy loss in power grids (save $150 billion annually) 🚀 Enable magnetic levitation transport everywhere ⚡ Revolutionize quantum computers themselves 🏥 Transform medical imaging with better MRI systems Here's what happened that made my hands shake when I saw the results: Our quantum algorithm successfully predicted the EXACT superconducting temperature of YBCO (93K) - a material discovered in 1987 that still puzzles classical computers. But here's the kicker: We did it with just 50 quantum bits. IBM's latest quantum computer has 1000+ qubits. Do the math. 👀 The implications are mind blowing: - We're 5-10 years away from designing superconductors on-demand - Room-temperature superconductors (the Holy Grail) suddenly seem achievable - Energy transmission without loss could reshape civilization - Quantum computers could design better quantum computers The 40-year search for room-temperature superconductors just got its biggest breakthrough since the 1980s. And it came from an unexpected place: quantum computers simulating quantum materials. Plot twist: The same quantum systems that need superconductors to work are now designing better superconductors for themselves. 🧠 Mind = Blown Our paper is now available. The energy industry will never be the same. Link to Publication: https://lnkd.in/d6S3KRYt Who's ready for a world without energy loss? ⚡

⚡ 99.5% efficiency, 40 kW/kg power density – welcome to the superconducting era of motors for aerospace applications! ✈️ Superconductors are special materials that conduct electricity with zero resistance when cooled below a certain temperature. This means no energy is lost as heat, unlike normal wires. 💡 High-Temperature Superconductors (HTS): These materials work at relatively higher temperatures (around –140 °C). They are not “room temperature,” but easier to cool compared to older superconductors. One startup, Hinetics is pioneering a breakthrough in this field. Instead of using complex cryogenic cooling systems (pumps, pipes, seals, fluid circulation), they have designed a spinning cryocooler. 👉 Cryocooler = A compact refrigeration device that keeps superconductors cold. 👉 Conduction cooling = Heat is transferred directly through solid materials (like copper) instead of circulating fluids. 👉 Power-to-weight ratio = How much power a motor produces relative to its weight. Higher ratios mean lighter, more powerful motors – critical for aircraft. Hinetics’ prototype superconducting motor operates at 5–10 megawatts. That’s enough power to fly a regional passenger airliner. Even more exciting, their motor achieves up to 99.5% efficiency and a specific power of 10 kW/kg. Future versions may reach 40 kW/kg, making them among the lightest and most powerful motors in the world. 🚀 🌊 Potential applications go beyond aircraft – into ships and other high-torque systems. With less weight, higher efficiency, and reduced energy losses, superconducting motors may redefine electric propulsion. But challenges remain – cooling delays, material costs, and scalability. Yet the pace of innovation suggests that superconducting motors could soon power the skies and seas. 🌍 ✈️ What if the future of flight runs on superconductors, not jet fuel?🔍 🚀 Knowledge grows when we share it. ♻️ Tag someone curious about EVs & Technology. 🔔 Don’t forget to follow Murali for more #Superconductors #ElectricAviation #FutureOfEnergy #Innovation #Cryocooler Source : IEEE Spectrum

Why are people suddenly interested in superconductors? Why did a recently claimed discovery spin-up an online betting market? And why has this discovery sparked a world-wide race to replicate superconductivity? This is because of a material called “LK-99”. What’s the hype? ------------------- Ever felt your laptop heating up during use? That is because electrical circuits produce heat when they are in use. Superconductivity is when electricity is conducted with almost no heat released. In other words, near perfect energy transmission with no energy loss. Yes, this is a big deal, but this is not new. Typically you need unbearably-low temperatures and/or ultra-high pressures to achieve superconductivity. This means huge, car-sized machines existing just to simulate such conditions. However, with LK-99, researchers Sukbae Lee and Ji-Hoon Kim have claimed to achieve the ultimate superconductor i.e., superconductivity at room temperature and pressure. Why the hype? ------------------- Well, first off, Gen-AI and Barbenheimer will not be the only talks-of-the-town, if the discovery is proven to be true. A truly new era can be ushered in (are you reading this, investors?). It has the potential to change so many things, but here are just a few: - Medicine game-changer. Modern MRI machines use superconducting systems. That’s why they are bulky and costly. Imagine a sleek machine with really low cost to operate. Accessible medical science. - How about electric vehicle batteries fully charged within minutes instead of hours? Almost no heating losses. - Quantum computers will get much smaller! No more bulky machinery required to keep the superconducting chip at sub-zero temperatures. - No electrical transmission loss means cheaper electricity. Think of third-world nations where electricity is not a 24x7 amenity. A true game changer. ------------------- All of this rests on the veracity of the discovery, and how (and if) it is replicated in the scientific community. But that is all the more reason why we should be keeping an eye on the recently famed LK-99. #superconductivity #lk99 #southkorea #science #techeducation #revolution #revolutionarytech

#Superconductor #LK99. What just happened? A groundbreaking paper was recently posted, introducing the world to a room temperature ambient pressure superconductor named LK99. This has set the scientific community abuzz, with efforts underway to synthesize and replicate the findings. How long the “old tech” existed? The quest for a room temperature superconductor has spanned over a century. The journey began with experiments by Dutch physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes in 1911, using liquid helium at super low temperatures. Over the years, various superconductors have been discovered, each with its unique properties and transition temperatures. Why is this important? Superconductors have the potential to revolutionize industries by eliminating electrical resistance. This could lead to more efficient power transmission, advanced transportation systems like maglev trains, and breakthroughs in medical imaging. The discovery of LK99, a room temperature superconductor, could make these technologies more accessible and cost-effective. Can it impact the evolution of Quantum Computing? Absolutely! Superconductors are already a key component in many quantum computers. And probably Quantum Machine Learning, as it should be able to be energy efficient and probably enable faster training times. Is that really true and how can we know? While the initial announcement of LK99 is promising, the scientific community is now in the process of synthesizing and replicating the findings. Historically, many superconductors, like the cuprate superconductors discovered in the 1980s, generated significant excitement but faced challenges in practical application. Only time and rigorous scientific validation will confirm the true potential of LK99. What are the next steps? The immediate focus is on synthesizing LK99 and verifying its properties. If validated, the next phase would involve understanding its potential applications and addressing any challenges in its commercialization. The development of superconductors is a complex journey, and while LK99 offers hope, real-world applications might still be some years away. 📺 Watch the full video on the history of superconductors here: https://lnkd.in/gr63QBju #EmergingTech #Innovation #Science #Technology

“In a breakthrough that paved the way for unlimited carbon-free energy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) engineers successfully tested a novel high-temperature superconducting magnet capable of generating a world-record 20-tesla magnetic field strength, a crucial milestone for enabling practical fusion power plants. Nearly three years after achieving this test, MIT researchers have now published a comprehensive analysis validating their record-smashing superconducting magnet technology, a key step toward commercial reactors that could provide unlimited clean power “Overnight, it basically changed the cost per watt of a fusion reactor by a factor of almost 40 in one day,” said Dennis Whyte, former director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center. “Now fusion has a chance of being economical.” At the heart of the breakthrough is a magnet made from a superconducting material called REBCO that can operate at a higher temperature of 20 kelvins, eliminating the need for complex insulation between conductor windings. This “no-insulation” design, proved highly stable and simplified fabrication. But the rigorous testing process didn’t stop there. Over several additional runs, researchers deliberately pushed the magnet beyond its limits to induce a “quench” – an intentional overheating that simulates worst-case operating conditions. Remarkably, the vast majority of the magnet survived this induced failure with minimal damage. “That test actually told us exactly the physics that was going on, and it told us which models were useful going forward,” said Zach Hartwig, who headed the engineering group behind the magnet development. The comprehensive data validated the team’s computer modeling and design approach, paving the way for scaling up the technology for SPARC, the compact fusion device being built by CFS. Both MIT and CFS credit their close collaboration, combining academic and private sector strengths, as key to achieving this leap in a short timeframe. The decades of expertise at MIT’s fusion facilities also provided crucial knowledge and capabilities. “This goes to the heart of the institutional capabilities of a place like this,” Hartwig said. “We had the capability, the infrastructure, and the people to do these things under one roof.” Read report here: https://lnkd.in/dPaX4pFM https://lnkd.in/dvw4EwKB