MegJul 29, 2023

This whole #LK99 room temperature superconductor thing is pretty fascinating. Even the cautious scientists are like "probably not real but if it is it'll be world changing" which is.. not something you see every day.

If there's anything that makes me (as an extreme lay person) think it might be real it's that the people behind it are literally fighting over who gets credit, including dueling preprint papers and everything.

If it was a scam or they didn't really believe they had something, you'd kind of expect the opposite? If they're wrong they're fucked. Unlike billionaires (or even millionaires), scientists who tank their reputations really can lose their shirts.

Definitely wish more of the conversations about this were happening in places I can follow from the fediverse though.

Show threadChris MerleJul 29, 2023
@megmac I remember the hullabaloo over Cold Fusion. There was something going on but not fusion. Where were the neutrons. It’s possible something else interesting is happening but it’s not room temp superconductivity.
Show threadMeg

@clmerle I mean, there are some pretty big differences here really.

The big one, to my understanding, is that "cold fusion" has a lot of theory-grounded reasons to be considered impossible (and did in 1989), but with "warm superconductors" it's more that we lack theoretical grounding as to how it would work. The tendencies of the fields have also been rather opposite: credible advancements in fusion have all involved high (if not higher) temperatures, while advances in superconductors have been towards higher temperatures. Just not *this* high.

So cold fusion has a more difficult bar. It ought to be impossible, while room temp superconductors are just unlikely right now (and it's a big leap from where we are).

Anyways, it would have been fascinating to see the replication efforts for Fleischmann and Pon's experiment play out in real time on something more like the current internet too, reagardless of the outcome. :D

Jul 29, 2023 at 3:04pmWeb
Show threadChris MerleJul 29, 2023
@megmac I’m just thinking in terms of the announcement and the hullabaloo around both events. They are very similar. But yes, room temperature superconductivity is likely achievable.