Researchers have discovered that a key requirement for superconductivity can persist even at room temperature.

Scientists searching for a superconductor that works at room temperature have identified a potential way forward. New research from Utrecht, Leiden, and Munich shows that electrons can form the pairs needed for superconductivity even at room temperature. The findings, published in Science, suggest that a different requirement may be preventing these materials from conducting electricity without resistance.

The key appears to be how paired electrons behave collectively. Although the pairs can survive at much higher temperatures than previously understood, they must also act in a coordinated way for superconductivity to emerge.