[Graeme]

A step nearer to understanding superconductivity

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')ransporting energy without any loss, travelling in magnetically levitated trains, carrying out medical imaging (MRI) with small-scale equipment: all these things could come true if we had superconducting materials that worked at room temperature.

Today, researchers at CNRS have taken another step forward on the road leading to this ultimate goal. They have revealed the metallic nature of a class of so-called critical high-temperature superconducting materials. This result, which was published in the 31 May 2007 issue of the journal Nature, has been eagerly awaited for 20 years. It paves the way to an understanding of this phenomenon and makes it possible to contemplate its complete theoretical description.

Superconductivity is a state of matter characterized by zero electrical resistance and impermeability to a magnetic field. For instance, it is already used in medical imaging (MRI devices), and could find spectacular applications in the transport and storage of electrical energy without loss, the development of transport systems based on magnetic levitation, wireless communication and even quantum computers.

[Tanada]

Just because you can explain how something works in terms of Physics does not mean you can duplicate it cheaply and easily. Fusion for power production is just one example of this situation and I beleive room termperature superconductors are just as likely to drop in any day now and save the world.

[Bas]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tanada', 'J')ust because you can explain how something works in terms of Physics does not mean you can duplicate it cheaply and easily. Fusion for power production is just one example of this situation and I beleive room termperature superconductors are just as likely to drop in any day now and save the world.

[whereagles]

Mass-producing room-temperature superconducting wires would suceed in increasing electric energy efficiency by 100 or 200%, but let's not forget we would STILL need to get that energy somewhere the first place.