Scientists found a metallic 'supersolid' that carries electricity while its internal structure flows like a liquid with zero friction.
March 26, 2026
Original Paper
Electrical Transport and Quantum Oscillations in the Metallic Spin Supersolid EuCo2Al9
arXiv · 2603.24445
The Takeaway
Supersolids are a paradoxical state of matter that behave like solids and liquids simultaneously. While usually restricted to exotic gases or insulators, finding this in a highly conductive metal suggests a bizarre new class of materials where electricity and 'frictionless' flow coexist.
From the abstract
The discovery of spin supersolid and its giant magnetocaloric effect has opened a new arena in frustrated quantum magnets and cutting-edge cryogenics. The intermetallic EuCo2Al9 (ECA), for the first time, extends this intriguing phase from Mott insulators to a highly conductive metal [1]. In this work, we systematically study the electrical transport properties of ECA, where itinerant electrons serve as a sensitive probe for the spin supersolid states. We observe anomalies both in the temperatur