My Thoughts on LK-99#
It has been over ten days since the publication of The First Room-Temperature Ambient-Pressure Superconductor. It can be said that there are various opinions.
As an ordinary student with a physics level at the sophomore year and a limited chemistry level from the high school entrance examination, I am completely unfamiliar with superconductors, and I haven't even fully read popular science content on the topic. Regarding this quite astonishing discovery, or its potential implications, for a field that I don't understand, I have always adhered to the principle of not speaking without knowledge. However, I couldn't help but share my thoughts after more than ten days.
The title of this article is "My Thoughts on LK-99," but it should actually be "My Observations of How Others View LK-99."
The main sources of information I obtained were Twitter, Baidu Tieba, Bilibili, and class group chats. Different platforms have different opinions, and it can be said that it is quite fascinating.
I tried to summarize and categorize them:
- Mindless criticism:
- Occurrence: Mostly on Tieba, to be more precise, certain individuals on certain Tieba forums.
- Manifestation: Mainly in a sarcastic and mocking manner. Representative comments include: "How could the Koreans make such a discovery?" with a condescending tone.
- My thoughts: I am increasingly repulsed by derogatory terms for other countries, such as "A-san, Koreans, Jia-ma-da, ugly country," and so on. Such comments give me a strong sense of arrogance, but is your country really that much stronger than others? I don't think so.
- Attacking related researchers
- Occurrence: Can be seen almost everywhere.
- Manifestation: When some laboratories announce problems with reproducing LK-99, the proposers of LK-99 may come under attack, being called attention-seeking clowns.
- My thoughts: It has been ten days now, and it still maintains a high level of attention, but there doesn't seem to be a completely convincing refutation yet. Some viewpoints even suggest that this may lead to new ideas. I think it is commendable that they have been able to achieve this. Science is constantly progressing through trial and error.
- Talking and discussing
- Occurrence: Seems to be more common on Twitter.
- Manifestation: Some Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) chase after hot topics, even if it is not their field of expertise.
- My thoughts: I can understand, but after seeing too much, I find it tiresome. But then again, am I not a complete outsider as well? Yet here I am, writing so much.
- Cyber battles of the crickets
- Occurrence: Class group chats, university Tieba forums.
- Manifestation: Many universities in China are trying to reproduce the results and express their opinions based on the results. Then, based on the accuracy and timeliness of these opinions, they rank these universities.
- My thoughts: I think it is commendable to attempt to reproduce and publish one's own replication results. However, different phenomena may occur during the experimental process due to various reasons, which can also be understood. It is possible that for the sake of timeliness and exposure, things may be rushed, but that is also understandable.
Finally, let me share my thoughts:
- I certainly hope it succeeds.
- Even if it doesn't succeed, it is still a new material and may lead to new ideas. So it is also a good thing and definitely worth acknowledging.