US team hits record 151 Kelvin superconductivity at ambient pressure

Researchers at the Texas Center for Superconductivity and the University of Houston have achieved a record-high superconducting transition temperature of 151 Kelvin (−251°F) at ambient pressure, surpassing the previous record of 133 K (−356°F) set in 1993. This breakthrough is significant because the transition temperature marks the point below which a material can conduct electricity without resistance, and raising this temperature makes superconducting technologies more practical and affordable. The research was funded by Intellectual Ventures, the state of Texas, and other foundations. The team employed a technique called pressure quenching, which involves applying intense pressure to enhance superconducting properties, cooling the material under pressure, and then rapidly decompressing it to "lock in" these properties at ambient pressure. This method contrasts with previous approaches that required maintaining high pressure to sustain superconductivity. Achieving stable superconductivity at ambient conditions opens new possibilities for energy generation, transmission, medical imaging, fusion energy, and faster electronics. The ultimate goal remains to reach