Stocks that soared recently in South Korea on researchers’ claim of a breakthrough in superconductor technology tanked Friday as experts sought proof while the local exchange escalated its warning on the trading frenzy.
Worth noting, even if the material does not end up with full-on superconducting properties, it could easily still represent advancement in the field. One way or another, it does appear to be unusual.
I can pretty easily see someone getting excited about the prospect, being afraid of getting scooped somehow, and so rushing to publish to lock in their fame before all the necessary work has been done. A little unethical, but certainly understandable. And even if mistaken, it’s still another step in the scientific process.
My poor understanding of this situation is that, of the team working on it, one guy was like “We need to hold off on publishing until we’re 100% sure.” Then another guy was like “lol, gonna publish anyway and leave you off the paper.” The hesitant guy gets wind and rushes to publish (with everyone included) so as to at least be included in the process.
Also, there’s a thing about the first published one only had 3 people on it, making it eligible for a Nobel, but more than that does not qualify.
But overall, I agree! It’s not like it being publicized stops them from working on it. They will still be working on it, and it’s definitely a step towards progress. Technological process tends to be lots of small improvements to the same system over time until someone comes up with a huge leap. Then the process begins again by constantly improving on that new technology. Hopefully, this is that next huge leap in energy.
Plus, with their process so far published, more people are able to work on it without starting from scratch. It would suck for the original scientists, but be a net good overall if the early publication led to someone else being able to move farther then them because they now have access to it.
Worth noting, even if the material does not end up with full-on superconducting properties, it could easily still represent advancement in the field. One way or another, it does appear to be unusual.
I can pretty easily see someone getting excited about the prospect, being afraid of getting scooped somehow, and so rushing to publish to lock in their fame before all the necessary work has been done. A little unethical, but certainly understandable. And even if mistaken, it’s still another step in the scientific process.
My poor understanding of this situation is that, of the team working on it, one guy was like “We need to hold off on publishing until we’re 100% sure.” Then another guy was like “lol, gonna publish anyway and leave you off the paper.” The hesitant guy gets wind and rushes to publish (with everyone included) so as to at least be included in the process.
Also, there’s a thing about the first published one only had 3 people on it, making it eligible for a Nobel, but more than that does not qualify.
But overall, I agree! It’s not like it being publicized stops them from working on it. They will still be working on it, and it’s definitely a step towards progress. Technological process tends to be lots of small improvements to the same system over time until someone comes up with a huge leap. Then the process begins again by constantly improving on that new technology. Hopefully, this is that next huge leap in energy.
Plus, with their process so far published, more people are able to work on it without starting from scratch. It would suck for the original scientists, but be a net good overall if the early publication led to someone else being able to move farther then them because they now have access to it.