Electricity travels through wires to deliver power, but some of that energy is always lost along the way. However, that energy loss doesn’t have to happen. Researchers at Penn State have discovered a new method for identifying materials called superconductors, which can transmit electricity with zero resistance, allowing energy to move without any loss.
The challenge is that superconductors are difficult to use in most real-world applications because they only function at extremely low temperatures. Such conditions make them impractical for technologies like next-generation energy systems or advanced electronics. Supported by the “Theory of Condensed Matter” program within the Basic Energy Science division of the Department of Energy (DOE), the Penn State team has created a new predictive approach that could help scientists discover superconductors capable of working at higher temperatures.
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