Part 2/8:
In the years that followed, the discovery of high-temperature superconductors in 1987 ignited significant excitement in the scientific community. The author's laboratory divided into teams to explore these new materials. Despite his hesitations and self-doubt about his expertise in superconductivity, he was appointed the lead scientist tasked with finding the potential applications for these materials within the Department of Defense.
However, the subsequent analysis revealed a daunting reality – while these materials showcased promising properties, they were also inherently fragile and unstable. This realization led to the recommendation that funding be withdrawn from high-temperature superconductors and redirected to other avenues.