Selling Science

Abstract

In 1987, scientists at the spring meeting of The American Physical Society announced the development of new, hightemperature superconducting materials. The session, which had been widely publicized through early preprints and press releases, was attended by 3500 physicists and hundreds of reporters. Bertram Batlogg from the Bell Laboratories solid-state research team proclaimed, “Our life has changed.” An ecstatic press headlined Batlogg's comment, and underneath heralded “breathtaking advances,” “stunning possibilities” and “revolution.” Journalists reported “gasps” from scientists; high-Tc superconductivity was “a quantum leap in technology,” a “new frontier.” News articles anticipated new transportation (levitated trains), new power systems (cheap energy) and the creation of an “Oxide Valley” comparable to California's Silicon Valley.

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