Record for superconductivity at normal pressure updated for the first time in 33 years, reaching -122°C; 140°C away from room temperature

A University of Houston and Texas Center for Superconductivity team raised the ambient-pressure superconducting transition temperature of Hg1223 to 151K using a pressure-quench method.

The new record beats the previous 133K mark by 18K and ends a roughly 33-year-long gap since the last update.

The effect lasted for two weeks and was reproduced across five samples, strengthening confidence in the result.

The advance could help reduce cooling and equipment constraints for practical superconductors in power transmission, MRI, fusion, and quantum technologies.