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Question for the smart HN community: If it's proven that LK-99 is NOT a superconductor, will still have any "real use"? Or it's going to be completely worthles

Question for the smart HN community: If it's proven that LK-99 is NOT a superconductor, will still have any "real use"? Or it's going to be completely worthless. Is it "dihcotomic"? Either it's a superconductor and it's helpful for humanity, or it's not and it's completely worthless. Or being "enough" good of a conductor might have applications as well? Thanks!

seewhydee 3y ago
Contrary to the linked tweet, there's some reason to think its diagmagnetism is pretty interesting. It might be the second most diamagnetic non-superconductive material known. Why this may happen may keep condensed matter physicists entertained for a while. Very little chance of direct technologicalapplications for the foreseeable future, though.
- taylodl 3y ago
  > Very little chance of direct technologicalapplications for the foreseeable future, though. Which means it's worthless. Remember, oil was "worthless" too when it was first discovered...
- hackerlight 3y ago
  If this were true, would CMTC word the tweet like this: > Enquiring minds want to know: Is diamagnetism not interesting? The answer is that NO, diamagnetism is NOT interesting, many materials (e.g. Pb, Cu, P going into LK99) are diamagnetic. It is a run of the mill property. (There are more results, but CMTC cannot divulge them yet.)
  - seewhydee 3y ago
    I would argue that CMTC is acting here more like a twitter drama queen than a proper scientist.