A sample of LK-99, which displayed unusual magnetic properties Rokas Tenys/Alamy
It is rare for materials science to make headlines, and practically unheard of for it to become a viral success. But in July this year, that is exactly what happened when a group of researchers claimed to have created a superconducting material that operates at room temperature and ambient pressure. While the claims probably don’t hold up, the tale of a material called LK-99 showed a new way of doing science. Forget peer review – this was meme review.
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