This Week in Startups

LK-99 breakthrough with Varda’s Delian Asparouhov & Andrew McCalip | E1788

12 snips
Aug 4, 2023
Delian Asparouhov, CEO of Varda, and Andrew McCalip, their R&D head, dive into the LK-99 room-temperature superconductor replication. They discuss groundbreaking breakthroughs in material science and the potential impact on technology and energy solutions. The conversation explores the challenges in sourcing materials and highlights the supportive community within the tech industry. Also joining is Liam Gerada from Krepling, who shares insights on empowering merchants in the e-commerce landscape using innovative, no-code solutions.
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ANECDOTE

Varda's LK-99 Replication

  • Andrew McCalip read the LK-99 paper in his spare time and proposed replicating the experiment.
  • Delian Asparouhov, Varda's CEO, approved, as Varda's lab had the necessary equipment.
INSIGHT

Promising Early Results

  • Varda successfully replicated some aspects of the LK-99 experiment, observing a magnetic response in a small material sample.
  • Further testing in a scientific lab is needed to confirm superconductivity, but the material exhibits intriguing properties.
ANECDOTE

Sourcing Challenges

  • Sourcing materials for the LK-99 replication proved challenging, with some components having illicit uses.
  • Varda partnered with a licensed lab for one reaction step and found an alternative source for a regulated material.
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