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."

Comments

80 GPa

[quenda]

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.

Re:80 GPa

[Deadstick]

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

rj

Re:80 GPa

[Anonymous Coward]

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

Element Abuse

[Anonymous Coward]

"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.

Re:happened with other SCs as well

[Inverted Intellect]

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.

All these elements

[Anonymous Coward]

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

Re:Fuzzy math...

[swb]

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.

I always knew it

[keeboo]

Take that, Americium!

Re:I always knew it

[Anonymous Coward]

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

Superconductivity of Americium

Re:happened with other SCs as well

[corbettw]

Wake me when someone reaches Plaid Cold.

It isn't better

[ChrisMaple]

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.

Re:It isn't better

[phantomfive]

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.

Re:happened with other SCs as well

[Dr Caleb]

> 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.

Re:happened with other SCs as well

[Hucko]

oh noooo. That was measured with lasers!

Re:happened with other SCs as well

[x2A]

Please no jokes about sticking a thermometer up Uranus.