Cracking the Case of LK-99: The Failed Quest for a Room-Temperature Superconductor

Scientists have determined that LK-99, a compound of copper, lead, phosphorus, and oxygen, is not a superconductor as previously claimed. The material's properties, including levitation and drops in electrical resistivity, were found to be the result of impurities, particularly copper sulfide. Replication efforts by various research teams have failed to observe room-temperature superconductivity in LK-99. The conclusion highlights the importance of careful analysis and the need for pure samples in studying material properties.