Just when you thought the hype about room-temperature superconductors was over, it’s not.
A Swiss quantum algorithm startup, Terra Quantum, and a research lab at the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) in Brazil claim that they have discovered a form of graphite that superconducts at ambient temperature and pressure.
According to Terra Quantum, this breakthrough could potentially revolutionize numerous industries with its potential applications. The company, which recently raised $60 million for its quantum-as-a-service platform, is not to be underestimated.
However, it’s important to remain cautious and not get swept away by these initial claims. As previous cases have shown, it’s vital to thoroughly investigate and confirm the existence of room-temperature superconductivity before hailing it as a game-changing technology.
Room-temperature superconductors, should they be discovered and verified, have the potential to revolutionize numerous industries including electricity transmission, computing, electric vehicles, MRI machines, and maglev trains.
But as of late, claims of room-temperature superconductivity have been surfacing at an alarming rate, only to be debunked or doubted shortly after. Within the past year alone, three high-profile cases have been discredited.
And unfortunately, it seems that this latest claim may also fall into the same category. In fact, experts and researchers who have spoken with TechCrunch+ remain skeptical about the validity of this new material as a room-temperature superconductor.
