📈 Chartpack: The potential of superconductors
What could novel superconductors such as LK-99 herald for humanity?
Hi, Nathan Warren here.
Today, we’re delving into the world of superconductivity, and investigating what advances in the field could herald for humanity. In this chartpack, you will learn:
LK-99’s Claim: A potential room-temperature superconductor under debate.
Superconductor Basics: Their unique features and the promise of room-temperature variants.
Applications: Impacts on energy, healthcare, and transportation.
Future Possibilities: Roles in nuclear fusion, quantum computing, and unforeseen innovations.
If you enjoy these kinds of Chartpacks, I would recommend reading my analysis of China’s economic future.
Enjoy!
A coming revolution?
Two weeks ago, a paper on arXiv presented a bold claim: the discovery of the world’s first room-temperature, ambient-pressure (RTAP) superconductor, LK-99. This compound, a blend of lead, copper, phosphate, and oxygen, represents a potential breakthrough that, if validated, could usher in “a new era for humanity.” As of today1, prediction markets estimate a 22% chance that LK-99 will be independently replicated, a decrease from 35% just yesterday. A recent Chinese study has cast doubts, suggesting LK-99 isn’t a superconductor, but we’re awaiting definitive confirmation. Regardless, a room-temperature superconductor remains a pinnacle goal in material science. It’s crucial to investigate the profound implications such a superconductor could have for our world. To this end, we’ve assembled a comprehensive Chartpack to visualise these potential advancements.
