One of many reasons I regret not having majored in Physics. Cool article--thanks Occ.

I'd be damn surprised if superconductor research is given anymore money above what it's current grant levels are right now. Who knows. Here's to wishful thinking.

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quote:

Bosons, in contrast, are seen in photons, and subatomic particles called W and Z particles.

Eh? Photons are made of bosons???

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I wish i understood something of physics. Unfortunately, when it comes to that matter, my brain seems to switch off, leaving me completely in the dark (i had to drop physics in school because i just couldn't complete it)

Maybe I'm just being cynical, but this seems to me like just another example of wishful thinking in superconductor research.

i.e. "Wow, it conducts great at negative ten billion degrees! Now if we could only get it to work at realistic temperatures..."

It's the last quote that bothers me, really:

quote:

Jin stressed her team worked with a supercooled gas, which provides little opportunity for everyday application. But the way the potassium atoms acted suggested there should be a way to translate the behavior into a room-temperature solid.

That's pretty much the failing point of ALL past semiconductor research - yes, there SHOULD be a way to translate it into a room-temperature solid, but that's the one thing that nobody seems to have been able to do for any of the research that's taken place. People keep doing more and more research at ridiculously low temperatures, but I don't see how that's really helping anyone.

It's interesting, though, I guess. Assuming they can make any further progress. Have they really created another state of matter? Reading the article left me thinking that it was just a transition state between two known states.

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quote:

Originally posted by DigiNut Maybe I'm just being cynical, but this seems to me like just another example of wishful thinking in superconductor research. i.e. "Wow, it conducts great at negative ten billion degrees! Now if we could only get it to work at realistic temperatures..." It's the last quote that bothers me, really: That's pretty much the failing point of ALL past semiconductor research - yes, there SHOULD be a way to translate it into a room-temperature solid, but that's the one thing that nobody seems to have been able to do for any of the research that's taken place. People keep doing more and more research at ridiculously low temperatures, but I don't see how that's really helping anyone. It's interesting, though, I guess. Assuming they can make any further progress. Have they really created another state of matter? Reading the article left me thinking that it was just a transition state between two known states.

Well I admit that perhaps I erred in referring to a CNN article to explain the benefits of the discovery. I figured that most would not care, except perhaps Tito, so I resorted to a headline grabber. Here's a more physics oriented examination of the implications of the experiement.

http://www.physicstoday.org/vol-56/...2no10p17-18.pdf

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quote:

"Learn, child, to catch a hint through whatever agency it may be given. 'Sermons may be preached through stones." - Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Letters from the Masters of Wisdom, first series, p. 74, letter 31

Linky

Well, not that I believe it, but here's a company that not only says that room-temperature superconductors are possible, they have them and are preparing to market them. I would have thought they would have made a bigger splash onto the scene if they truley did have room-temp superconductors, but I guess only time will tell.

Linky2

Well, I guess somebody was gullible enough to buy a whole bunch of "ultraconductors." LOL


If anyone can find any more recent articles about this company, let me know.

quote:

Originally posted by NeoPhono Linky Well, not that I believe it, but here's a company that not only says that room-temperature superconductors are possible, they have them and are preparing to market them. I would have thought they would have made a bigger splash onto the scene if they truley did have room-temp superconductors, but I guess only time will tell. Linky2 Well, I guess somebody was gullible enough to buy a whole bunch of "ultraconductors." LOL If anyone can find any more recent articles about this company, let me know.

hehe ya funny, wired is a great magazine, but i wouldnt hold my breath on that company - after all that article was written in July 1998

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quote:

Originally posted by NeoPhono Linky Well, not that I believe it, but here's a company that not only says that room-temperature superconductors are possible, they have them and are preparing to market them. I would have thought they would have made a bigger splash onto the scene if they truley did have room-temp superconductors, but I guess only time will tell.

Hehe, just yesterday one croatian newspapers had a big title "Croatian physics professor discovers room-temperature superconductor!". For some reason it's really popular here to announce that a local physicist discovered a room-temperature superconductor at least once per year.

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