Welcome to Quantum Magazine's podcast.

Each episode, we bring you stories about developments in science and mathematics.

I'm Susan Vallett.

For decades, a family of crystals has stumped physicists with its baffling ability

to superconduct electricity at far warmer temperatures than other

materials. But now, an atomic scale experiment sheds new light on this mystery. That's next.

Quantum Magazine is an editorially independent online publication supported by the

Simon's Foundation to enhance public understanding of science.

We now finally know why a family of crystals can perfectly conduct an electric current at far warmer

temperatures than other materials.

That's because an experiment years in the making has directly visualized superconductivity

on the atomic scale in one of those crystals.

Electrons appear to nudge each other into a frictionless flow in a matter

first suggested by a theory nearly as old as the mystery itself. Subir Sachtev, a physicist at

Harvard University, who builds theories of the crystals, known as Kupreys, says the evidence is

beautiful and direct.

Satchdev wasn't involved in the experiment.

J.C. Seamus Davis led the new experiment at the University of Oxford.

He talked with reporter Charlie Wood.

It was really exciting, actually.

Since I've worked on this problem for 25 years, and I hope I have solved it.

I'm absolutely surreal. I would like to do something else.

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