New room-temperature superconductor could change computing forever — what you need to know

An illustration depicting how superconductors work

(Image credit: Getty)

Researchers and scientists around the world are racing to validate the claims of a South Korean team that says it has created a new compound that could lead to room-temperature, ambient-pressure superconductors.

The compound in question has been named LK-99 and its discovery is being hailed as a major breakthrough that could change the design of smartphones and laptops as we know it.

That's because they would no longer require the kind of cooling that’s needed today. Even if this South Korean team of scientists has managed to do the impossible though, it would still take years for this technology to trickle down to consumers.

Conductors vs superconductors

Conductors can be found in all of the electronics we use today, from the best phones to the best laptops and everything in between. These substances or materials allow electricity to flow through them but generate heat during this process, which is why computers and other electronics require cooling.

Copper, steel, gold, silver, aluminum and many other metals are good conductors, but even salt water can conduct electricity. However, these materials are inefficient since when electrons travel across them they collide with atoms from the conductor, which creates heat and leads to energy being lost. This is called electrical resistance and one of the main things that sets conductors apart from superconductors.

Superconductors, on the other hand, conduct electricity without any loss, which is why they’ve been sought after for so long. We already have and use some superconductors today, like in MRI machines, but unfortunately they require extremely low temperatures or extremely high pressure to work.

If LK-99 is what the team who created it claims, it would represent the biggest breakthrough of the 21st century so far. Not only because of its ability to operate as a superconductor at room temperature, but also because it can do so with just ambient pressure.

Outlook: LK-99 could change the world—but not anytime soon

A futuristic smartwatch with a globe projected from it. — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

From the supercomputers of today to the quantum computers of tomorrow, LK-99 could change computing as we know it. Once the compound can be manufactured quickly and implemented in consumer electronics, it could lead to a major improvement in battery technology since less energy would be wasted.

Imagine if you could wear one of the best smartwatches for days without having to recharge it. The same goes for the smartphone in your pocket or the laptop on your desk. LK-99 could help usher in that future, and it could also have major implications for transportation by enabling us to build more efficient electric cars and even improved maglev trains. It could even put a serious dent in helping humanity solve the climate crisis once and for all.

Given the controversy surrounding LK-99 and the way in which the initial research was released publicly, a healthy dose of skepticism certainly makes sense here. Surprisingly, the South Korean team who created the compound has been working on it in their spare time since 1999. We wouldn’t even know about their research if one of the scientists hadn’t gone rogue and published a paper on it without the approval from the rest of the team.

For now though, LK-99 has managed to get the entire world excited about science again, and that’s a good thing. Until the compound is easily replicated and verified, we’re just going to have to wait and see if it’s really a breakthrough. We’ll be keeping a close eye on all of the developments surrounding LK-99 and plan on updating this story as we learn more.

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Anthony Spadafora is the managing editor for security and home office furniture at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches to password managers and the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. He also reviews standing desks, office chairs and other home office accessories with a penchant for building desk setups. Before joining the team, Anthony wrote for ITProPortal while living in Korea and later for TechRadar Pro after moving back to the US. Based in Houston, Texas, when he’s not writing Anthony can be found tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home.