Thread by @HongzeLi

Some thoughts on the room-temperature near-ambient-pressure superconductor drama in #APSMarch #APSMarch2023: past and present in high-Tc superconductivity discoveries: Woodstock of physics vs the NDA excuse.
Here comes a thread.

We know that in March of 1987, the academic world was abuzz with news of the discovery of cuprate-based high-temperature superconductors. The discovery was so new that no one could catch the APS March meeting deadline that year. However, APS added a last-minute marathon session.

The marathon session to present and discuss the related findings in the NYC March meeting was called “Woodstock of physics” (ref to the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Festival). This session saw 51 presentations on this groundbreaking discovery from 7:30pm to 3:15am the next day.

Over 2,000 physicists, including Paul Chu and Karl Alexander Müller, who contribute mainly to the discovery, actively participated in the presentations and discussions. The marathon session drew the attention of the public and initiated a race on high-Tc superconductor discovery.

36 years later in the 2023 APS March meeting in Las Vegas, Ranga Dias reported a room-temperature superconductor near ambient pressure. However, unlike the “Woodstock of physics”, the “excitement” surrounding this groundbreaking discovery was marred by the session chair.

They engaged in crowd control (70 people in the room strictly) to stop people from listening to the talk and skipped the Q&A session, preventing attendees from asking questions. Besides, Dias also just walked down right after his talk without any intention to discuss.

The differences between the two sessions were stark. The 1987 meeting was characterized by open discussions, a willingness to share information, and a spirit of scientific collaboration, while the 2023 meeting was marked by secrecy, controlled access, and a lack of transparency.

The changing culture of science is also reflected by Dias' new startup, Unearthly Materials, which has filed patents to protect his discovery. The use of NDA by the company offers a convenient excuse to not send out samples or disclose further information to verify the discovery.

While it is understandable to protect the IP, the use of NDAs can also stifle scientific collaboration and slow down the pace of discovery as well as the verification of important but controversial findings.

Apparently 36 years have brought many changes to not only the world of high-Tc superconductors discovery but also science research itself. The open spirit of scientific collaboration has given way to a more guarded, secretive approach.

While it is important to protect the IP, it is equally important to nurture an environment of transparency and collaboration so that breakthroughs can be made and verified faster, leading to a greater impact on the whole society.