As I understand it, superconductors work best at temperatures approaching absolute zero (-273.15C). For example, Google tells me that the superconductor in an MRI operates at -269C.
There has been a lot a buzz lately about room temperature (25C) superconductors being discovered, but why is room temperature the focus? Why not focus on superconductors that work in reasonably cold environments? For example, we can easily get temperatures to -15C in a freezer. Why not create superconductors that work in that temperature range rather than 25C?
Research looks into any and all superconductors all the time. The buzz right now is because a new one was potentially found, and it happens to function at room temperature. Discoveries don’t happen on a schedule. If a superconductor was discovered that functioned at -15C, that would be huge news too as I believe the current warmest ambient pressure superconductor needs -140C to transition.
Because then it wouldn’t be easy to implement and won’t work in consumer electronics. The entire point a room temperature superconductor is exciting is because you don’t have to create a special environment for it to work, which immediately makes it a million times more useful than a superconductor that would work when cold.
Still, LK-99 isn’t confirmed to be a superconductor, we’re still waiting on more tests.
There is a lot of activities around “high temperature supra conductor” high temperature meaning using liquid nitrogen as a cooling fluid. It would already be less a hassle than liquid helium. Some do exists, and the question that interest every industry using supra-conductor is whether the cost saved by switching to liquid nitrogen is worth developing a whole new product with a relatively recent technology.
Room temperature would be a massive breakthrough as suddenly you don’t really need to deal with a cooling system (or may-be a water cooling/fan like any other electric equipment) not only it would ease the life of people aready using super-conducting materials but it would also allow to use it in more cases (Maglev, electric motor)
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As a layperson, this was similar to my first thought. Near absolute zero superconductor: works in tightly controlled lab environments. Very Cold superconductor: works in industrial environments (which would be great). Room Temp superconductor: works in consumer grade good (absolutely revolutionary).
Short answer is power lines. Tons of power is lost as heat between the power plant and your home. If they can make a room temp superconductor then every powerline could be replaced with a line that has no losses. This could mean power plants can be smaller and still supply the current power requirements or they could serve more people with the same size power plant which would hopefully bring down electricity prices some since they have more customers.
