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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."

2 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. Gee... by Anachragnome · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Gee...I got all excited there for a moment. Until I read:

      "The results make europium the 53rd of the 92 naturally occurring elements to possess superconductivity"

    If the gnomes haven't figured out how to "harness" the magic contained in the OTHER 92 elements that super-conduct, why would this one be any different?

  2. Rare Earth Metals by lobiusmoop · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I was quite surprised to read in Wikipedia that the rare earth metals are neither rare nor 'earths' in reality.

    --
    "I bless every day that I continue to live, for every day is pure profit."