每日英語跟讀 Ep.K627: Revolutionary 'Room-Temperature Superconductor' LK-99 Sparks Global Debate
Scientists from Korea University recently made headlines with their claim of discovering a groundbreaking "room-temperature superconductor" called LK-99, which has garnered widespread attention in the field of solid-state physics. If verified, this discovery could have transformative implications for various industries, including electronics, energy, and medical imaging. However, the scientific community remains cautious, awaiting replication and peer validation to confirm the legitimacy of the claims.
來自韓國大學的科學家最近因宣稱發現一種名為LK-99的突破性「室溫超導體」而成為新聞頭條，該發現在固態物理領域引起廣泛關注。一旦證實為真，此一發現將對電子、能源和醫學影像等多個產業產生革命性的影響。然而，科學界對此仍抱持謹慎的態度，等待複製實驗和同行驗證以確認其合法性。
Superconductors, materials that enable electricity to flow without resistance, have been pursued in physics for over a century. Initially, superconductivity was observed in materials only at extremely low temperatures near absolute zero, making practical applications challenging. Subsequent research identified a few "high-temperature" superconductors, but they still required significant cooling. The novelty of the Korean researchers' claim lies in LK-99's ability to maintain superconductivity at temperatures up to around 127°C, which could revolutionize various technological fields.
超導體是一種能使電流在其內部流動而不受任何阻力影響的材料，在物理學領域被追求已有一個多世紀。最初，人們只在接近絕對零度的極低溫下觀察到超導現象，使實際應用變得困難。隨後的研究發現了一些所謂的「高溫」超導體，但仍需進行大量冷卻。韓國研究者宣稱的突破性在於LK-99能在高達約127°C的溫度下保持超導性，這可能會顛覆各種技術領域。
The material composition of LK-99 consists of copper, lead, phosphorus, and sulfur, rendering it cost-effective and readily available for potential industrial applications. The prospect of room-temperature superconductors has sparked excitement, with possibilities ranging from faster microchips and more efficient electric motors to lossless electricity transmission and improved medical scanners. Quantum computing, a field that relies heavily on superconducting materials, could also benefit significantly from room-temperature superconductors, potentially eliminating the need for bulky refrigerators.
LK-99的材料組成包括銅、鉛、磷和硫，使它在潛在的工業應用中成本效益高且易於獲得。室溫超導體的前景令人興奮，可能帶來更快的微晶片、更高效的電動馬達、無損電力傳輸和改進的醫學掃描器等多種應用。強烈依賴超導材料的量子計算領域也可能因室溫超導體而大大受益，潛在地消除冰箱這樣笨重的設備需求。
Despite the enthusiasm, skepticism abounds within the scientific community. The papers detailing LK-99 are preprints, yet to undergo peer review or publication in reputable scientific journals. Researchers worldwide have attempted to replicate LK-99's properties, but so far, none of these efforts have been successful. Some scientists synthesized the material for testing purposes, while others evaluated LK-99 using theoretical methods. Both approaches have yet to provide direct evidence of superconductivity.
儘管消息如此狂熱，科學界仍充斥著懷疑。LK-99的論文屬於預印本，尚未經過同行評審或在知名科學期刊上發表。全球的研究人員已試圖複製LK-99的特性，但迄今為止這些努力尚未成功。有些科學家合成了該材料進行測試，而其他人則使用理論方法評估LK-99。然而，這兩種方法均尚未提供直接證據證明其超導性。
Reference article:
1. https://www.timesnownews.com/technology-science/scientists-discovery-of-room-temperature-superconductor-sparks-global-interest-article-102437880
2. https://siliconangle.com/2023/08/04/superconducting-lk-99-material-draws-raised-eyebrows-scientists-going-viral/