LK-99, the Wundermaterial that never was.

Last week, a paper was released by a Korean research group claiming they had synthesised a material named LK-99, which possesses superconductive properties at room temperature. In short: they found the holy grail of material sciences, capable of revolutionising virtually every industry. From power storage, transport, and electricity generation to MRI scanners and computing. A Nobel Prize would be a certainty.

What followed was a flutter of excitement within the scientific community, igniting a race to synthesise the elusive material. Labs around the world fired up their ovens, with thousands following live streams and discussing the findings online. In the face of political turmoil, wars, the pandemic, and uncertain economic prospects for the first time in quite some time, people were discussing a brighter tomorrow. Thinking and imagining the immense impact this material could have. What incredible applications are suddenly up for grabs.

While the legitimacy of the findings is still unknown, the hopeful and optimistic view of the future inspired me to visualise what an organisation specialised in creating this wonder material might be called and look like. The name Clotho is inspired by one of the Three Fates from Greek mythology. Clotho was the spinner; she spun the thread of human life. The slogan “Conducting the future” refers to the superconducting nature of the material.

Do you have an exciting idea of what the future might look like? Let me know, and perhaps we can design it together!

Special thanks to MidJourney & ChatGPT helping me whip this up in little over an hour.