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 level and a chemistry level limited to the high school entrance examination, I am completely unfamiliar with superconductivity, 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 channels I use to obtain relevant information are Twitter, Baidu Tieba, Bilibili, and class groups. Different platforms have different opinions, and it can be said to be quite fascinating.
I have tried to summarize and categorize them:
- Mindless criticism:
- Occurrence: Mostly on Tieba, more specifically, certain individuals on certain Tieba forums.
- Manifestation: Mainly in the form of sarcastic mockery. Representative comments include: "How could the Koreans make such a discovery?" with a condescending tone.
- My thoughts: I am increasingly averse to 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.
- Attacks on 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, and the enthusiasm is still high, but there doesn't seem to be a complete and powerful 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 always progressing through trial and error.
- Casual discussions
- 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.
- My thoughts: I can understand, but after seeing too much, I find it tiresome. But then again, am I not a complete outsider who has written so much?
- Cyber battles
- Occurrence: Class groups, university Tieba forums.
- Manifestation: Many universities in China are trying to reproduce the results and express their opinions based on the results. Then, these universities are ranked based on the accuracy and timeliness of their opinions.
- My thoughts: I think it is commendable 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 may be too hasty for the sake of timeliness and exposure, but it is 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 worthy of recognition.