As reported by Interesting Engineering in the article “Rare Graphite Flakes Behave as Both a Superconductor and a Magnet at 300 Kelvin,” researchers at MIT have uncovered a highly unusual physical property in a rare form of graphite that challenges long-held scientific beliefs.
For centuries, superconductivity and magnetism have been considered mutually exclusive—superconductors lose their special zero-resistance state when exposed to magnetic fields. However, in a recent study, MIT scientists observed a material where both behaviors coexist, suggesting the presence of what’s known as chiral superconductivity. This finding could redefine how materials are understood and applied in advanced electronics and quantum systems.