The Physicist Controversy: From Superconductivity to Ouster

You've likely heard of Ranga Dias, the physicist from the University of Rochester who made waves with claims about superconductivity. Superconductivity is when electricity can flow without resistance, and high-temperature superconductors could revolutionize energy and technology. Dias, however, faced a storm when two of his papers were retracted due to concerns about scientific integrity. The university carried out an investigation over the past year, led by a panel of highly respected physicists. The findings? Dias was found guilty of research misconduct. So, the university decided to end his employment. This decision came from the Board of Trustees, who followed the recommendation of the university president, Sarah Mangelsdorf. It's important to note that Dias wasn't a tenured professor, which means the university had the final say. Dias had previously sued, claiming the investigation was biased, but his case was dismissed. Dias' journey in the world of superconductivity started with a bang in 2020 when he claimed to have found a superconductor that worked at room temperature under high pressure. This paper was published in Nature, a prestigious science journal. However, it was later retracted because some of its data raised eyebrows. Undeterred, Dias published another paper in the same journal, claiming another superconductor that worked at high temperatures but with lower pressures. This one also met the same fate, with many of its authors calling for retraction, although Dias didn't agree. Superconductors are interesting materials because electrons behave differently under high pressure. This can lead to new chemical compounds forming and unusual conductivity properties. Dias' lab was exploring this area, trying to find materials that could superconduct at higher temperatures. While his claims were intriguing, there were issues with how the data was processed and presented. The university's investigation into Dias' first paper found no wrongdoing, but the second paper raised red flags. This led to a thorough investigation and ultimately, his termination. The scientific community takes integrity seriously, and any deviation can have significant consequences.