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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."

24 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. happened with other SCs as well by gcnaddict · · Score: 3, Informative

    The Carnegie Institution for Science published something like this exactly one year ago today.

    Granted, it doesn't mention Europium, but the same principle applies.

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    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:happened with other SCs as well by Inverted+Intellect · · Score: 4, Funny

      Your temperature scale is clearly incorrect.

      As it regards cold, it goes from Chilly, to Cold, to Freezing, eventually reaching Ridiculously Cold, Unbelievably Cold and Impossibly Cold.

      oh wait, are you using the imperial system of verbal measurement? Never mind.

    3. Re:happened with other SCs as well by corbettw · · Score: 4, Funny

      Wake me when someone reaches Plaid Cold.

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      God invented whiskey so the Irish would not rule the world.
    4. Re:happened with other SCs as well by Dr+Caleb · · Score: 4, Funny

      > As it regards cold, it goes from Chilly, to Cold, to Freezing, eventually reaching Ridiculously Cold, Unbelievably Cold and Impossibly Cold.

      I'm Canadian you insensitive clod. I'd still be in shorts and a t-shirt.

      --
      "History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme." Mark Twain
    5. Re:happened with other SCs as well by Lucractius · · Score: 3, Funny

      In certain circles where greater accuracy is required its common to use a finer precision in the jump from Freezing to Ridiculously Cold.

      This is done by having Bloody Freezing and F*****ing Freezing as additional points on the scale.

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    6. Re:happened with other SCs as well by Hucko · · Score: 4, Funny

      oh noooo. That was measured with lasers!

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      Semi-automatic amateur armchair Australian philosopher; conjecture ready at any moment...
    7. Re:happened with other SCs as well by x2A · · Score: 5, Funny

      Please no jokes about sticking a thermometer up Uranus.

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    8. Re:happened with other SCs as well by selven · · Score: 3, Funny

      Ludicrous Cold... GO!

  2. 80 GPa by quenda · · Score: 4, Funny

    80 giga-pascals of pressure? Could be useful for deep-sea power transmission. You only need to go 8000km deep to get that pressure naturally.

    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. Re:80 GPa by physicsphairy · · Score: 3, Funny

      What's a few orders of magnitude between friends?

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      When things get complex, multiply by the complex conjugate.
  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. Extreme Hazard by thethibs · · Score: 3, Funny

    We must make sure that no one ever mixes europium with administerium. An EU "unfettered by resistance" could set civilization back a thousand years.

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  5. 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?

  6. 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.

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

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

  8. Re:Fuzzy math... by swb · · Score: 4, Funny

    I figure the real benefit from research isn't the discoveries, its the economic benefit of decent, well-paying jobs in a pleasant park-like campus.

  9. 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.

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

    Take that, Americium!

    1. Re:I always knew it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      The metal americium becomes superconducting at temperatures as high as 0.79 K ...
      Submitted on February 13, 1978

      Superconductivity of Americium

  11. It isn't better by ChrisMaple · · Score: 5, Informative

    This is not a high temperature superconductor. It only superconducts under 2 degrees K, when compressed to an extreme degree. It is of academic interest only.

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    1. 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