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lk-99 partially levitating during an experiment.

LK-99 / Room-Temperature Superconductor

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Updated Jan 04, 2024 at 03:11PM EST by Aidan Walker.

Added Jul 27, 2023 at 04:42PM EDT by Philipp.

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Related Explainer: Why Are There Memes About Superconductors? The Buzz Around LK-99 Explained

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About

Room-Temperature Superconductor refers to a hypothesized material that is capable of superconductivity at room temperature, meaning that it has zero electrical resistance. In July 2023, the discovery of a material called LK-99 by South Korean scientists sparked viral discussions and memes about superconductive materials on social media, as well as widespread media coverage.

Origin

In physics, superconductivity is a property of a material that involves zero electrical resistance and expulsion of magnetic flux fields. The discovery of a cheap material that has superconductive properties at ambient pressure and room temperature (or near-room temperature) is sought after in the scientific community due to its numerous practical applications, such as lossless electricity transition, cheap manufacture of powerful magnets, use in quantum computing, energy storage, highly efficient hardware, applications in magnetic levitation, etc.[1][2]

Until 2023, multiple reports of the creation of room-temperature superconductors had been made in the scientific community, although most of these findings had not been confirmed.[1]

On July 22nd, 2023, a group of researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology reported the creation of the superconductive material LK-99, which is a slightly modified lead-apatite that can be commonly synthesized, publishing their findings on arXiv.[3]

As of July 27th, 2023, the discovery of LK-99 superconductivity had not been replicated in a peer-reviewed experiment. The findings have been scrutinized by the scientific community, with multiple experts expressing skepticism, including suspicions that LK-99 exhibited properties that of a diamagnetic, not a superconductor.[4]

Spread

The published findings were reported by various traditional media and on social media in the following days. For example, on July 25th, 2023, Twitter[5] account @AiBreakfast posted a video of LK-99 being experimented upon, reporting on the discovery. The tweet received over 510 retweets and 2,600 likes in two days (shown below).


On July 25th, 2023, Twitter[6] user and Princeton graduate Alex Kaplan made a thread about the discovery, explaining the potential applications of the material. The first tweet in the thread (shown below, left) received over 22,100 retweets and 128,000 likes in one month.


Alex Kaplan @alexkaplano Β· Jul 25 Today might have seen the biggest physics discovery of my lifetime. I don't think people fully grasp the implications of an ambient temperature / pressure superconductor. Here's how it could totally change our lives. 2,477 12 27K 72 127.2K Alex Kaplan @alexkaplan0 Jul 25 1.100 billion kWh of electricity are wasted on transmission losses each year in the US alone. That's equivalent to 3 of our largest nuclear reactors running 24/7. Superconductivity enables lossless electricity transmission at high voltages and currents. 1 678 Alex Kaplan @alexkaplan ₁27.7M ↑ 11.8K 2M 2. According to the authors, the LK-99 material can be prepared in about 34 hrs with extremely basic lab equipment (a mortar & pestle, basic vacuum, and furnace). These results could replicate within days-weeks. Alex Kaplan @alexkaplan0 Jul 25 3. Nuclear fusion reactors rely on superconductors for plasma confinement. Modern designs use RBCO/YBCO superconductors cooled with LN2 or Liquid He, creating a huge temperature gradient and challenging operation. Ambient superconductors enable a whole host of new reactor designs 19 32 1336 Alex Kaplan @alexkaplano Β· Jul 25 4. Quantum computers use superconductors to preserve coherence in qubits. Small changes in temperature and pressure can cause the entire QC to fail during operation. Imagine a room temperature quantum computer on your desktop - now possible. 481 8,257 Alex Kaplan @alexkaplan0 Jul 25 31 Alex Kaplan @alexkaplano 7,945 . 402 5. Superconductors might be the best batteries out there. Simply inject a current and keep it in the coil until you need it. Previously, too costly to maintain. Now, totally feasible. 1.5M 7,935 1.4M 1.3M ... 6. Your iPhone won't overheat when playing subway surfer with a youtube video in the corner anymore! Ultra-efficient computer chips will have O resistive losses during operation with superconductors. No need for cooling fans!! 11:35 PM . Jul 25, 2023 1.3M Views Alex Kaplan @alexkaplano Jul 25 7. And, the common ones: super-cheap MRI machines, MagLev trains everywhere, and a super efficient electric grid. Basically, this: 80 122 t 636 Alex Kaplan @alexkaplano Alex Kaplan @alexkaplano Jul 25 8/8 I cannot contain my excitement. It feels like January of 2020 with a huge wave coming that no one realizes yet, but in a much better way. What a time to be alive!! Check out the original paper: arXiv 11.8K 1,394 1.2M arxiv.org The Firs Room-Temperature Ambient-Pressure Su... For the first time in the world, we succeeded in synthesizing the room-temperature superconduct... 13K ₁1.3M addendum: a lot of my @Princeton Phys friends are convinced this is pretty legit, and I am too. Like, Fig 4 is a pretty good sign that (and was nowhere to be found in the previous Dias et. al fiasco). Hopes are up. ↑

National Lab Supercomputer Simulation

On July 31st, 2023, physicist SinΓ©ad Griffin published the results of a simulation made using a supercomputer at the Department of Energy. According to the findings, the material theoretically could superconduct if conduction pathways are in the right conditions and places. On that day, @sineartrix tweeted[8] a link to the paper published on arXiv,[9] adding a reaction Mic Drop GIF. The tweet (shown below) gained over 1,300 retweets and 8,100 likes in one day.


Later that day, engineer Andrew Cote then made a tweet[10] explaining the findings, which received over 5,800 retweets and 17,500 likes in one day (shown below).


Andrew Cote @Andercot National Lab (LBNL) results support LK-99 as a room-temperature ambient-pressure superconductor. Simulations published 1 hour ago on arxiv support LK-99 as the holy grail of modern material science and applied physics. (arxiv.org/abs/2307.16892) Here's the plain-english explanation: - The simulations modeled what the original Korean authors proposed was happening to their material - where copper atoms were percolating into a crystal structure and replacing lead atoms, causing the crystal to strain slightly and contract by 0.5%. This unique structure was proposed to allow this amazing property. - @sineatrix from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab simulated this using heavy-duty compute power from the Department of Energy, and looked to see what would happen to the 'electronic structure of this material, meaning, what are the available conduction pathways in the material. It turns out that there are conduction pathways for electrons that are in just the right conditions and places that would enable them to 'superconduct'. More specifically, they were close to the 'Fermi Surface' which is like the sea-level of electrical energy, as in '0 ft above sea-level.' It's believed currently that the more conduction pathways close to the Fermi surface, the higher the temperature you can superconduct at (An analogy might be how its easier for planes to fly close to the surface of the ocean due to the 'ground effect' that gives them more lift.) 0.1 EIDU γ€Œ A LH A|LM|K H Energy (eV) 0.0 -0.1 -0.2 -0.3+ -0.4. MK FIG. 4. Calculated spin-polarized electronic band structur in smaller energy range around the Fermi level showing th isolated two-band Cu-d manifold. The Fermi level is set to ( eV and is marked by the dashed line. This plot in particular shows the 'bands', or electron pathways, crossing above and below the Fermi surface. - Lastly, these interesting conduction pathways only form when the copper atom percolates into the less likely location in the crystal lattice, or the 'higher energy' binding site. This means the material would be difficult to synthesize since only a small fraction of crystal gets its copper in just the right location. This is insanely bullish for humanity.

On August 1st, 2023, an unconfirmed video of the LK-99 experiment being replicated by Chinese researchers was widely circulated online (shown below).[11]


"Russian Catgirl" Iris Conducts Experiment

On July 29th, 2023, Twitter[14] user, soil scientist and purported "anime catgirl" @iris_IGB began a thread showing her attempt to recreate the LK-99 experiment in her own kitchen. Iris begins by providing a short history lesson on superconductor research and goes on to criticize the Korean scientists' methods for synthesizing various materials needed to conduct the experiment (seen below).


Iris @iris_IGB. Jul 29 The girlfriend is having a carpet cleaning job today, so I won't be livestreaming Kin-dza-dza! to her... Room temperature superconductor time then. Tagging @ATinyGreenCell and @endless_sine because it's Relevant to their work. 20 463 3 1,544 Iris @iris_IGB. Jul 29 Okay, so Landau, huh. The progenitor of all quantum physics angel girls, person described by f------ Science Committee of CC CP USSR (people with unhinged enthusiasm) as a person with unhinged enthusiasm. 1 25 las casan ₁381.9K 345 : ₁107.4K ↑ 企 Iris @iris_IGB. Jul 29 1D superconductors present a lucrative field for high temperature superconductivity because in 1D systems kinetic energy of heat is 3-6 times lower than in 3D one, for obvious reasons. Carbon nanotubes proved to be bad for this purpose however. 2 C 12 1 212 Iris @iris_IGB. Jul 29 So when the papers came out they were basically too lukewarm in content for me to not disregard them - lots of screaming around something that doesn't challenge anything is usually a sign of Drama Afoot and I don't like it and I initially dismissed it. Dunce Hat on. 17 3 2 208 105.2K 329 ₁91.8K Iris @iris_IGB. Jul 29 So, on to the actual meat of concept. I had everything to reproduce the experiement on hand and we kinda needed a good buck converter for a different project. So I was promised a beef steak with potato and asparagus if I improve the protocol until Tuesday. 1 21 ↑ 102.5K

Iris then proceeds to reconfigure the steps in the Korean LK-99 paper, and posts updates on her kitchen chemistry process over the last weekend in July 2023. On July 30th, @iris_IGB posted two photos[15] appearing to successfully replicate the LK-99 experiment and showing what they call a "speck of shit" being held up by "superdiamagnetism" (seen below).


Iris @iris_IGB Fanservice ALT 3:16 PM Jul 30, 2023 3.3M Views ALT 778 Retweets 752 Quotes 4,995 Likes 1,402 Bookmarks :

Various tech enthusiasts subsequently commented on the notion that a "Russian Catgirl" might have been the first to successfully replicate the LK-99 experiment and expressed amusement at Iris's snarky tone in sharing her process. For example, on July 31st, Twitter[16] user @8teAPi posted a summary of events and discussed Iris in particular (seen below, left), and on August 1st, Twitter[17] user @DanielleFong posted screenshots from a comment discussing Iris on the /r/redscarepod[18] subreddit (seen below, right).


Russia: Soil scientist and anime catgirl Iris, stumbles upon the papers and reads them casually on Friday morning. Russian scientific practice when replicating Western papers is to deconstruct the science into abstraction. Not having the same access to equipment, Russian inquiry delves into the why much more deeply, to concentrate on the essence required to produce the outcome. With that starting point, cursing and swearing in inimical Russian style, she recognizes the smokescreen of the method in both papers immediately, cursing the idiocy of the Korean team (normally it would American, but the curses work just as well on Koreans). You want to produce a crystal, get good quality, well mixed starting inputs, and perform the actual exothermic reaction that produces the desired outcome. She posts her kitchen chemistry process over the weekend, at arrives at 2 confirmed Meissner effect levitation stones, beating all other public teams. She posts the pics on Twitter and begins to indulge in her favorite hobby, insulting the intelligence of westerners. In Corporate Boardrooms Around The World: Eyebrows are raised, what-ifs are asked, quiet emissaries are despatched. Monday 6:28 AM Jul 31, 2023 2.1M Views 597 Retweets 240 Quotes 3,660 Likes 1,105 Bookmarks Danielle Fong @DanielleFong good summary about the floaty rock drama so far "if you're not following LK99, you're missing out on the most fun thing happening or the internet now. Feels like the old internet." reddit.com/r/redscarepod/... TOW. I eers fire the via internet. TL;DR: Since 1999, a tiny group of Korean scientists, working in obscurity and in their off-time, pursue the dying wishes of their materials professor who has his own theory about room temperature and pressure superconductors, a century-defining material, the holy grail of materials science and an instant Nobel prize. A week ago, one of them went rogue and published a paper describing how to produce their substance, LK-99, which may or not be this holy grail material. It requires no exotic materials or equipment to reproduce, but the paper omits a lot of detail about the specifics of the synthesis. They accompany it with pictures and a video. There are mistakes in the paper, but they authors say they are trivial, will be fixed, and all of them stand by their claims, even as they feud with each other. β€’ This kicks off a world-wide race to deboonk or reproduce. US, Chinese, Japanese, and Indian |_|_|| 2:10 PM. Aug 1, 2023 Β· 1.9M Views 2,308 Retweets 232 Quotes 14.4K Likes Subscribe shot. One guy at a startup in California tries on his own as well, and 10,000 people tune in to watch a Twitch stream of a webcam pointed at a kiln. The process takes a few days. : A Russian anime catgirl joins the fracas, ruthlessly making fun of both the original Korean scientists for their bizarre methodology, and of Western/ Chinese labs for simply following the steps without understanding what they do. She applies the Soviet technique of ignoring the steps outlined and instead trying to figure out what they actually do, and comes up with her own procedure using s--- just laying around her apartment. I skipped some details but it's been a fun ride. Maybe the history books will record the moment when a bitchy internet catgirl became the first person to reproduce the material that saved. She produces a small grain of the floaty rock, takes a picture but refuses to take a video, and mercilessly ridicules everybody who keeps asking her for more proofs because it was so easy to do, they should just be doing it themselves if they weren't mediocre westoids. She's catty and great. 3,189 Bookmarks

On August 1st, Iris[19] responded to her characterization as a "Russian Catgirl" by saying she is Russian by nationality and Ukranian by birth. She also adds that she isn't a catgirl but her girlfriend is (seen below).


grimes apologist @aristhotle3000 - 19h can you confirm or deny: β€’ A Russian anime catgirl joins the fracas, ruthlessly making fun of both the original Korean scientists for their bizarre methodology, and of Western/ Chinese labs for simply following the steps without understanding what they do. She applies the Soviet technique of ignoring the steps outlined and instead trying to figure out what they actually do, and comes up with her own procedure using s--- just laying around her apartment. β€’ She produces a small grain of the floaty rock, takes a picture but refuses to take a video, and mercilessly ridicules everybody who keeps asking her for more proofs because it was so easy to do, they should just be doing it themselves if they weren't mediocre westoids. She's catty and great. Iris @iris_IGB 27 4 84 ₁30.8K 1. I am a katsap nerus' by looks and very Soviet in upbringing, so I am only "Russian" as a nationality. Birth certificate lists "ukrainian" 2. I am not a catgirl, my girlfriend is. 3. Unfortunately, yes, functional literacy has become a soviet specific technique 2:38 PM . Aug 1, 2023 Β· 167.5K Views 39 Retweets 19 Quotes 803 Likes 162 Bookmarks : :

Prediction Markets

Following the initial reports of the potential discovery, prediction markets for the successful replication of the LK-99 experiment prior to 2025 were launched on Manifold[12][13] and other betting markets. As of August 1st, 2023, on Manifold, the betting consensus hovered in the 40 percent probability range.


Will the LK-99 room temp, ambient pressure superconductivity pre-print replicate before 2025? Quantum Observer 40% chance Wed 26 Preprint here: Thu 27 Fri 28 Bet YES ↑ https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.12008 Sat 29 Jul 30 qurma ind Mon 31 www Bet NO ↓ 3822 closes 2025 1D 1W 1M ALL August 100% 75% 50% 25% 0%

Use in Memes

Starting in late July 2023 as the news of the potential discovery achieved virality on Twitter, the topic became a subject of viral discussions and memes, further boosted by the online popularity of the 2023 biographical film Oppenheimer that was released around the same time.

For example, on July 26th, 2023, Twitter[7] user @Brad08414464 posted an I Should Buy a Boat meme that gained over 380 retweets and 5,300 likes in one day (shown below, left). Later on July 26th, Twitter user @netcapgirl posted an Ice Cream So Good meme that received over 2,200 retweets and 21,600 likes in one day (shown below, right).


Brad @Brad08414464 after watching Oppenheimer and then seeing the superconductor paper I SHOULD STUDY PHYSICS AT BERKELEY imgflip.com ... 1:27 AM . Jul 26, 2023 321.5K Views . sophie β†’ @netcapgirl superconductivity so good slay haha zero resistance at room temperature gang gang yes yes yes so many use cases including ultra efficient energy transmission thank you lopez you're right we do need to wait & see if these results can be reproduced scientific method so good yomy413 sent GG user29286... sent Duck GG 11:54 AM. Jul 26, 2023 2.1M Views 2 1128141

Rumored New Room Temperature Superconductor

On January 3rd, 2024, a paper was published by a team of Chinese researchers identifying a possible compound, similar to LK-99, which could be a superconductor.[20] The paper did not come to firm conclusions, but showed much data that was encouraging. Posters online greeted this new development with skepticism and wariness. For example, @pronounced_kyle on X posted about their willingness to "get hurt again" over hoping the new superconducting material was the real deal (seen below) in a January 3rd post that received nearly 3,000 likes in one day.[21]


Christian Keil @pronounced_kyle Jan 3 Room temperature superconductivity is back?! SENGAJARhei LAR SONG STY 6 s 46 NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. I AM READY TO GET HURT AGAIN.

Various Examples


Trung Phan @TrungTPhan Me after reading the abstract on the room-temperature superconductor research paper and not understanding a single word but seeing people online hyping it up: King TPhan "This is the most important thing ever to happen in the history of the world." 1:15 PM. Jul 26, 2023 139.8K Views Dr. Anna Hughes @AnnaGHughes the only room-temperature superconductor I recognize 9:08 AM Jul 27, 2023 60.1K Views . : Chris Bakke @ChrisJBakke X VCs who just spent $1.3m rebranding their firm as an "Al fund," hired 4 full time ML recruiters, and just read 3 wikipedia articles about Al to get up to speed on the space - learning that the industry has moved on to building superconductors. 10:42 AM. Jul 27, 2023 Β· 123.2K Views
@goth @goth600 "Jesse. We need to make unregistered superconductors. This will be a LOT more profitable than meth. Grab the copper powder and red phosphorus. I'm going to show you how to really cook now." GA 6:49 PM . Jul 26, 2023 99K Views Chris Bakke @ChrisJBakke Founders in 2023 after 3 years of pivoting from a DTC toiletpaper company to an NFT marketplace to a metaverse platform to an Al wrapper to a superconductor company and making $700 of total revenue along the way. 10:28 AM Jul 27, 2023 153.7K Views : 45 EC 66 60 You know, I'm something of a superconductor expert myself

Search Interest

External References

[1] Wikipedia – Superconductivity

[2] Twitter – @alexkaplan0

[3] arXiv – The First Room-Temperature Ambient-Pressure Superconductor

[4] iNews.co – The latest mega-breakthrough on room-temperature superconductors is probably nonsense

[5] Twitter – @AiBreakfast

[6] Twitter – @alexkaplan0

[7] Twitter – @Brad08414464

[8] Twitter – @sineatrix

[9] arXiv – Origin of correlated isolated flat bands in copper-substituted lead phosphate apatite

[10] Twitter – @Andercot

[11] Twitter – @lereguy

[12] Manifold – Will the LK-99 room temp, ambient pressure superconductivity pre-print replicate before 2025?

[13] Metaculus – Will the first independent replication attempt confirm the discovery of room-temperature and ambient-pressure superconductivity in LK-99?

[14] Twitter – iris_IGB

[15] Twitter – iris_IGB

[16] Twitter – 8teAPi

[17] Twitter – DanielleFong

[18] Reddit – /r/redscarepod

[19] Twitter – iris_IGB

[20] arXiv – Possible Meissner effect near room temperature in copper-substituted lead apatite

[21] X – @pronounced_kyle

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