From high-temperature superconductivity to room-temperature superconductivity: From ambient to high pressure; from very high pressure to ambient again!?

Abstract This article will first briefly review the impressive advancements made in high-temperature superconductivity (HTS) before the arrival of room-temperature superconductivity (RTS). Accompanying the advancements made in superconductivity science and technology over the last century, a solid experimental framework concerning the search, development, and even authentication of new discoveries has been established. All these can serve as valuable references in the infancy of RTS research. In this spirit, we will comment on the current status of rare-earth hydride RTS and present our preliminary negative results on Lu-N-H and LK-99, the two most studied materials in the search for RTS in the last few months, although several more reports of negation than affirmation have appeared.