aNYa Blogs!

Superconductivity coming of age?

Superconductivity holds a lot of promise. Problem is, it has been showing us that it holds a lot of promise for a while now. I remember going on a school trip when I was in the 7th grade to the Univ. of Pune, and visiting the superconductivity research lab. I don't recall much what the guy talked about, but I do recall being fascinated by the liquid nitrogen [-195C]. 'The guy' demonstrated how cold it was by dipping a fresh red rose into it and taking it out immediately .. the rose was dry and brittle as any fine dried specimen you will find. *shudder*
Trip down memory lane over; lets talk about current things. The reason superconductors are evading our lives is that they need a very low temperature to operate. Heck, if I remember it right, any material can be a superconductor if cooled to a cold enough temperature (somewhere frighteningly close to absolute zero probably). So material scientists have been trying hard to come up with something that will exhibit these properties even in a considerably less cold environment. The Economist [registration reqd.] has an article which talks about how the various obstacles that lie in the way of superconductive practicality are being overcome and how they will soon find enter our lives. Good technology this, will change things as we know them for sure.