National Science Foundation - Where Discoveries Begin

Superconductors conduct electricity without any energy loss and could be ideal for many energy-related applications. Unfortunately, even 'high-temperature' superconductors require very cold temperatures, which limits their use. However these high-temperature superconductors do enter a mysterious, nearly-superconducting state called the 'pseudogap phase' close to room temperature. Researchers at Cornell University have revealed for the first time a directionality in the arrangement of electrons in this state

Credit: Kazuhiro Fujita, Cornell University