summary of my current view of LK-99 superconductor saga: - LK-99 levitation is likely due to its relatively strong diamagnetism combined with weak ferromagnetism in parts of the sample causing a torque (arxiv.org/abs/2308.03110) - LK-99 high-low resistivity transition is likely due to Cu2S contamination (arxiv.org/abs/2308.04353) - inconsistency of replication is likely due to contaminants and under-specified synthesis (without Cu2S contaminant, you won't observe resistivity transition, and without some non-uniformly-distributed ferromagnetism, you won't observe half levitation) - The "second" phase transition in which they claim to measure zero resistance is likely due to measurement error; they're measuing extremely low current without very-low-temp instruments. researchers spend a decade+ dicerolling lead crystal synthesis and measuring it with extremely low current. they diceroll into something contaminated with Cu2S, giving a resistivity cliff at 380K, which they assume is superconductivity. They observe half-levitation caused by ferromagnetism and diamagnetism in the sample, which they assume is meissner effect. one person on the team publishes early and things get out of hand

Simona Kossak (1943-2007) Polish biologist, ecologist, author, PhD in forestry, and uncompromising conservation activist They called her a witch because she chatted with animals and owned a crow, who stole gold and attacked bicycle riders. She spent more than 30 years in a wooden hut in the Białowieża Forest, without electricity or access to running water. A lynx slept in her bed, and a tamed boar lived under the same roof with her. She was a scientist, ecologist, and the author of award-winning films, as well as radio broadcasts. She was also an activist who fought for the protection of Europe’s oldest forest. Simona believed that one ought to live simply, and close to nature. Among animals, she found that which she never found with humans. Photo Lech Wilczek.