Striking Gold in the 1990s: The Discovery of High-Temperature Superconductivity and Its Impact on the Science System
- 1 October 1992
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Science, Technology, & Human Values
- Vol. 17 (4) , 506-531
- https://doi.org/10.1177/016224399201700405
Abstract
The article retraces the social and institutional circumstances that in 1986 led two researchers at the IBM laboratory near Zurich, Müller and Bednorz, to discover high-temperature superconductivity. After confirmation of the unexpected breakthrough an unprecedented mobilization of research groups all over the world took place while simul taneously high-temperature superconductivity (HTS) turned into a subject of intense media interest. The authors discuss these events under three perspectives: the closer interlinkage capacity of researchers and the relationship between the social organization of research and unforeseen cases of scientific creativity.Keywords
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