Slashdot Mirror


Europium's Superconductivity Demonstrated

gabrlknght writes "An old element just learned a new trick under pressure. When cooled and squeezed very hard, the soft metallic element europium turns into a superconductor, allowing electrons to flow unfettered by resistance, a study appearing May 13 in Physical Review Letters shows. The results make europium the 53rd of the 92 naturally occurring elements to possess superconductivity, which, if harnessed, could make for more efficient energy transfer."

6 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. Re:80 GPa by Deadstick · · Score: 5, Funny

    That would be about 1620km past the center of the earth...

    rj

  2. Re:80 GPa by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Even better. If you went at it from the other side you'd only have to go down 6380km, much easier.

  3. Element Abuse by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "An old element just learned a new trick under pressure"

    This is an example of Element abuse! An OLD element, FORCED to learn a new trick, UNDER PRESSURE no doubt!

    Stop the madness, leave the poor elements alone, especially the old ones.

  4. All these elements by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    All these elements are yours except Europium. Attempt no superconducting there.

  5. I always knew it by keeboo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Take that, Americium!

  6. Re:happened with other SCs as well by x2A · · Score: 5, Funny

    Please no jokes about sticking a thermometer up Uranus.

    --
    The revolution will not be televised... but it will have a page on Wikipedia