When the pressure's off, this superconductor appears to break records.

The article focuses on a recent advancement in high-temperature superconductivity involving a mercury-and-copper-based cuprate compound called Hg-1223. By applying extreme pressure using a diamond anvil cell and then rapidly releasing it at low temperatures—a process known as quenching—researchers achieved superconductivity at temperatures up to 151 kelvins (−122.15° Celsius) under atmospheric pressure, surpassing the previous record of 133 kelvins set in 1993. This method may enable access to high-pressure superconducting phenomena at ambient conditions, potentially broadening practical applications. While the resistance drop observed supports superconductivity, the study did not confirm zero resistance, a definitive test, but the findings are considered credible given the known properties of Hg-1223. [Extracted from the article]