Milan Cacic
August 11, 2023
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What a time to be alive! In the past, major breakthroughs happened at best once a decade. Now, it seems like every few weeks there is a new breakthrough. So far in 2023, most of the excitement and news has been around artificial intelligence and large language models like ChatGPT. However, there have also been some other major breakthroughs, such as: Ozempic and Wegovy weight loss drugs, a cancer killing pill known as AOH1996 which appears to "annihilate" solid tumors, and lastly, LK-99 which is potentially the world's first room-temperature ambient-pressure superconductor.
What is special about a room-temperature superconductor (LK-99)?
A room temperature superconductor can conduct electricity without any resistance. Think of your phone heating up in your hand or your laptop getting hot after long periods of use – that heat is generated by electrons bumping into atoms. Basically, a superconductor allows electrons to flow without coming into contact with any atoms. It should be noted that we already have superconductors in use today for MRIs, quantum computers, and nuclear fusion. The problem is they are very expensive and difficult to use because they require enormous pressures or very low temperatures to operate effectively. Even our most sophisticated superconductors require temperatures below -140°C.
What is LK-99 made of?
LK-99 is a polycrystalline material made out of lead, oxygen, and phosphorus that’s been infused with copper. If scientists can replicate the results from Quantum Energy Research Centre in South Korea, it will affirm that the materials required to build this superconductor are abundant with little barriers to entry to produce on an industrial scale.
Where would LK-99 have the biggest impacts?
LK-99 would have the biggest impacts in anything that transports electrons – transmission lines, circuit boards, computers, and nuclear fusion. One of the coolest things about superconducting materials is that they expel magnetic fields from inside them. These magnetic fields are so powerful that they can levitate trains. Just imagine frictionless travel in a levitated state – the potential is endless!
I've also included a piece from our CIBC Economics team entitled "Canadian consumer: Cracks beginning to show ".
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Have a great weekend.
Milan