The online frenzies that followed LK-99 and ChatGPT reveal a resurgent techno-optimism—and a shared longing for a new technology that will free us from human limits. The floaty rock, LK-99, a room-temperature ambient-pressure superconductor, captivated the internet. The global race to reproduce the findings and the geopolitical intrigue added to the excitement. As LK-99 holds the potential to transform our world, materials scientists explore its magical properties and envision a new technological age.
