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Physics

LK-99 superconductor mania swept the internet for a few weeks in 2023

The promise of a material that could revolutionise the way we use electricity captured imaginations on social media, which also helped researchers quickly determine that LK-99 wasn't what it seemed

By Karmela Padavic-Callaghan

13 December 2023

2RFE6YH LK-99 room-temperature revolutionary superconductor. High quality photo

A sample of LK-99, which displayed unusual magnetic properties

Rokas Tenys/Alamy

It is rare for materials science to make headlines, and practically unheard of for it to become a viral success. But in July this year, that is exactly what happened when a group of researchers claimed to have created a superconducting material that operates at room temperature and ambient pressure. While the claims probably don’t hold up, the tale of a material called LK-99 showed a new way of doing science. Forget peer review – this was meme review.

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