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Europium's Superconductivity Demonstrated

Posted by samzenpus on from the great-new-taste dept.

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."

3 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. Re:happened with other SCs as well by houstonbofh · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The only difference between the last 20 or so elements is the later ones are not quite so ridiculously cold. Eventually we may get to just unbelievably cold!

  2. Re:First post by fractoid · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Simple; because the only new discoveries you HEAR about are the ones that are (at least potentially) better than what we already have.

    There are new, mediocre discoveries every day but they're never heard about except in some dusty journal.

    --
    Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
  3. Re:It isn't better by phantomfive · · Score: 5, Insightful
    One of the scientists in the article had a quote that I think is worth reproducing:

    "Superconductivity is an area where it's very difficult theoretically to have the last word, to really know what's possible and what's not.... Anything one can do to further the understanding of superconductivity might eventually help one design a better superconductor."

    In essence we don't know what superconductors can do, but if we try different stuff eventually we will find something useful. That's why it's worth doing.

    --
    Qxe4