The Greatest Advance Since the Wheel?
Sixty years ago a Dutch scientist discovered a phenomenon that overturned the electrical rule book. By cooling certain metals to incredibly low temperatures he found they could continue to carry an electric current for ever, even when the power supply was switched off. Today, developments of these metals - called superconductors-have led to trains that fly, magnets that could depollute rivers and machines that promise cheaper power. One scientist has described superconductivity as ' beyond question the greatest technological innovation since the discovery of the wheel.'
So what lies behind all the excitement, and why, if superconductivity is so important, are we still waiting for the big breakthrough? Narrator FRANK GILLARD
Editor PETER GOODCHILD
Producer GRAHAM MASSEY