How Superconductivity Was Discovered

The first liquefaction of helium in 1908 by Dutch experimental physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes was revolutionary. For the first time, scientists could push the boundaries of extremely low temperatures and see what happens to materials. 3 years after that feat, Onnes wanted to test something new: what happens to a metals electrical resistance as you reach those critical temperatures? 3 theories existed before Onnes tackled the problem, one by Lord Kelvin, one by James Dewar, and one by Augustus Matthiessen. However, when it came time to experiment, he collected data that matched none of the 3 existing theories. His discovery shocked the world of physics and introduced an entirely new concept to the community.