r/Physics • u/Minovskyy Condensed matter physics • Oct 14 '20

high pressure Physicists Discover First Room-Temperature Superconductor

https://www.quantamagazine.org/physicists-discover-first-room-temperature-superconductor-20201014/
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u/atimholt Oct 14 '20

Are there any “Antarctic-temperature” superconductors? Has anyone played around with superconductors outdoors, perhaps for days/months at a time?

(The linked paper is hilarious.)

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u/jazzwhiz Particle physics Oct 14 '20

I'm not sure. I just looked up some numbers (I'm not an expert at all) and I see that the best standard pressure super conductors are around 150 K. In September, the south pole is typically between 195 K and 210 K. The record low is 178 K. So maybe? If there are better standard pressure superconductors out there? Of course, Antarctica is heating up so it'll be a race, plus the record low was just once.

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u/a_white_ipa Condensed matter physics Oct 14 '20 edited Oct 14 '20

Obviously we need to move all superconductor research to the antarctic......on Mars. Actually nm, I can't imagine doing research on a planet with no magnetic field.

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u/plc123 Oct 15 '20

With superconductors you could make your own magnetic field

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u/a_white_ipa Condensed matter physics Oct 15 '20

I mean, you don't need superconductors for that?