Superconductivity is a phenomenon whereby a charge moves through a material without resistance.

In theory this allows electrical energy to be transferred between two points with perfect efficiency, losing nothing to heat.

Why are superconducting materials important?

In an ideal world, we’d all have superconducting materials wired into our electronics and power grids, saving huge amounts of energy and allowing us to cram circuits into confined spaces.

Unfortunately, there’s a catch. Most superconducting materials only have this useful function at temperatures of just above absolute zero, where atoms barely move.

How does superconductivity work?

These cold superconductors typically work by allowing electrons to overcome their usual repulsion to each other and snuggle closer together to form what are known as Cooper pairs.

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