This representation of oxygen locations is observed at all scales (Image: Nicola Poccia)

SUPERCONDUCTORS could be made to work at higher temperatures than ever before, thanks to the discovery that one such material has an internal structure that behaves like a fractal. Its structure is also similar to the way the internet and some social networks are connected up.

With no electrical resistance, superconductors can conduct a large current with no energy lost as heat. This makes them extremely useful for a host of applications, from maglev trains to particle accelerators. However, most superconducting materials only work at temperatures close …