Energy Implications of the Advances in Superconductivity Technology

The word "breakthrough" is much abused, but in describing the events of the early months of 1987 in the field of superconductivity it is wholly appropriate. Well-publicized (and in some instances sensationalized) by the general press, the essential elements of the story are well known to the lay public even if not well understood. The phenomenon of superconductivity, previously producible only at temperatures close to absolute zero,' was shown to be producible at much higher temperatures, and there have been tantalizing experimental hints of its producibility at room temperature.