Two weeks ago the world of science was shocked when researchers from South Korea's Quantum Energy Research Center published a research paper claiming they had successfully produced room temperature superconductors. The material named LK-99 according to researchers shows zero resistance at room temperature which has been considered impossible by the scientific community.
Because this claim can change the world of science, especially in the production of electronic devices, quantum computing and sustainable energy sources, many want LK-99 to really be a room temperature superconductor as claimed.
The Korean Society of Superconductivity and Cryogenics (KSSC) established an investigation committee headed by expert Kim Changyoung from Seoul National University. South Korea's Quantum Energy Research Center says the LK-99 sample they produced is currently being studied in order to confirm the research paper they published.
After that this sample will be submitted to the investigation committee which will then take another two to four weeks to do their own verification.
Since it was announced two weeks ago, there have been more than 17 experiments conducted by various scientific laboratories and universities to produce LK-99 themselves. So far the majority of tests conducted have failed to prove the claim that LK-99 is a room temperature superconductor as claimed.
The issue with current superconductors is that zero resistance when an electric current is passed can only be achieved at temperatures of -100 degrees Celsius or at extremely high pressures. Complex cooling systems make electronic devices with superconductors large in size. Room-temperature superconductors could realize dreams of backpack-sized MRI machines, waste-free electricity transmission and far more efficient electric cars.