Controversy Surrounds Blockbuster Superconductivity Claim

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March 14, 2023

Happy pi day! Last week, researchers announced that they had tested a new material that became superconducting at room temperature without requiring extreme pressure, as previous attempts had. But the study has been mired in controversy because of problems with previous papers from the same lab. If the breakthrough claim receives backup confirmation from independent researchers, it could pave the way for power lines that do not lose energy, computers that never overheat and even nuclear fusion reactors. Read more in our top story below!

Sophie Bushwick, Associate Editor, Technology @sophiebushwick

Materials Science Controversy Surrounds Blockbuster Superconductivity Claim Will a possible breakthrough for room-temperature superconducting materials hold up to scrutiny? By Sophie Bushwick

Artificial Intelligence AI's Victories in Go Inspire Better Human Game Playing Famed AI wins in Go let human players rethink their moves in a whole new way By Emily Willingham

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Mathematics If the Mathematical Constant Pi Was a Song, What Would It Sound Like? Every year on Pi Day, we have a reason to celebrate one of math's most famous symbols. But this year we speak to someone who has captured it in song. By Jeffery DelViscio | 09:43

Artificial Intelligence These Researchers Used AI to Design a Completely New 'Animal Robot' "Xenobots" are living, swimming self-powered robots that measure less than a millimeter across. They are evolved by artificial intelligence and built out of frog stem cells—and they could open new medical frontiers. By Luke Groskin

Energy Nuclear Waste Is Piling Up. Does the U.S. Have a Plan? We needs a permanent national nuclear waste disposal site now, before the spent nuclear fuel stored in 35 states becomes unsafe By Allison Macfarlane,Rodney C. Ewing

Aerospace What Can We Do to Make Sure the FAA and Southwest Airlines Fiascoes Never Happen Again? Congress and the airline industry must reassess how they approach and fund air transportation modernization By Laurie Garrow

Artificial Intelligence Who Is Liable When AI Kills? We need to change rules and institutions while still promoting innovation to protect people from faulty AI By George Maliha,Ravi B. Parikh

Politics We Must Prevent a New Nuclear Arms Race Smart U.S. leadership and international pressure on Russia can prevent an unconstrained global nuclear arms race By Daryl G. Kimball,Frank von Hippel

Food Why Is It So Hard to Make Vegan Fish? Futuristic food science technology could finally bring plant-based salmon filets and tuna steaks to the table By Joanna Thompson

Robotics Soft Robots Take Steps toward Independence Squishy robots can now heal themselves and grow as they explore By Nora Bradford

QUOTE OF THE DAY "The importance of pi has been recognized for at least 4,000 years. 'A History of Pi' notes that by 2000 B.C., 'the Babylonians and the Egyptians (at least) were aware of the existence and significance of the constant π,' recognizing that every circle has the same ratio of circumference to diameter. ... Thanks to computers, we now know more than the first six billion digits of pi." Steven Bogart, Scientific American

FROM THE ARCHIVE New Clues in the Hunt for a Room-Temperature Superconductor Could new theoretical and computational advances finally deliver the elusive room-temperature superconductor? By Bob Henderson | October 2019

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