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Red Wine and the Secret of Superconductivity

Posted by timothy on from the just-ask-bender dept.

cold fjord writes "Red wine is a popular marinade for meat, but it also may become a popular treatment for creating iron-based superconductors as well (Link to academic paper): 'Last year, a group of Japanese physicists grabbed headlines around the world by announcing that they could induce superconductivity in a sample of iron telluride by soaking it in red wine. They found that other alcoholic drinks also worked — white wine, beer, sake and so on — but red wine was by far the best. The question, of course, is why. What is it about red wine that does the trick? Today, these guys provide an answer — at least in part. Keita Deguchi at the National Institute for Materials Science in Tsukuba, Japan, and a few buddies, say the mystery ingredient is tartaric acid and have the experimental data to show that it plays an important role in the process. ... It turns out the best performer is a wine made from the gamay grape — for the connoisseurs, that's a 2009 Beajoulais from the Paul Beaudet winery in central France.'"

4 of 105 comments (clear)

  1. Prohibition by ultranova · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In light of this discovery, imagine if the Prohibition had stuck and became global. And imagine what we could accomplish if the researchers were free to soak the wires in LSD and tires in cannabis solutions? We could have free energy and flying cars, because the laws of physics are like, whatever man.

    --

    Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.

    1. Re:Prohibition by cold+fjord · · Score: 2, Insightful

      And imagine what we could accomplish if the researchers were free to soak the wires in LSD and tires in cannabis solutions?

      Researchers probably could do that if they had a valid scientific reason and went through the proper procedures. The problem is that most people aren't interested in soaking wires or tires, but soaking minds. The result of that is well known.

      Marijuana Smokers Face Rapid Lung Destruction -- As Much As 20 Years Ahead Of Tobacco Smokers
      Marijuana Use Precedes Psychosis

      We could have free energy and flying cars, because the laws of physics are like, whatever man.

      We already have flying cars, but they aren't really economical. There is more "free lunch" than there is "free energy".

      People should never confuse mind-altering substances with reality-altering substances.

      --
      much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
    2. Re:Prohibition by Mr.+Slippery · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I'm not arguing that Prohibition was a good idea. But I think you're glossing over the possible up-sides of an alcohol-free society.

      Never confuse a society where X is outlawed, with an X-free society.

      --
      Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
      You cannot wash away blood with blood
  2. Simple pleasures by rbmorse · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm glad to hear a 2009 Beaujolais is good for something.