Condensed matter physics (superconductivity)
Ranga Dias: Room-temperature superconductivity claims, 2020 to 2024
University of Rochester
Misconduct found No longer employed by the University of Rochester as of November 2024, after its investigation found data fabrication and the president recommended ending his contract.4,5
Papers
| Paper | Action | Date | Reason stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Room-temperature superconductivity in a carbonaceous sulfur hydride Nature, 2020 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05294-91 | Retracted | 26 September 2022 | The notice says questions were raised regarding the manner in which the data in this paper have been processed and analysed, and that all authors disagreed with the decision. |
| Evidence of near-ambient superconductivity in a N-doped lutetium hydride Nature, 2023 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06774-22,3 | Retracted | 7 November 2023 | Eight co-authors requested retraction, saying the paper does not accurately reflect the provenance of the investigated materials. Dias did not state whether he agreed. |
| Carbon content drives high temperature superconductivity in a carbonaceous sulfur hydride below 100 GPa Chemical Communications, https://doi.org/10.1039/d3cc90410e3 | Retracted | 15 January 2024 | Retraction recorded in Crossref. Notice text not read. |
Investigations
- University of Rochester (investigation requested by the US National Science Foundation, panel of three physicists), 2024Concluded he committed data fabrication and plagiarism and manipulated data in several studies, according to Chemistry World and Pesquisa FAPESP. Three earlier internal inquiries had cleared him.4,5
- US courts, 2024Dismissed his lawsuit alleging a biased investigation, according to Pesquisa FAPESP.5
Response
He maintained that the work was valid (Chemistry World) and declined to comment on his departure (Pesquisa FAPESP).4,5
Sources
- Nature, Retraction Note: Room-temperature superconductivity in a carbonaceous sulfur hydride (26 September 2022)
- Nature, Retraction Note: Evidence of near-ambient superconductivity in a N-doped lutetium hydride (7 November 2023)
- Crossref (incorporating Retraction Watch data), Crossref works search: retraction notices, author Ranga Dias (27 October 2026)
- Chemistry World, Superconductivity researcher at centre of misconduct scandal departs University of Rochester (November 2024)
- Pesquisa FAPESP, Misconduct in studies on superconducting materials costs researcher his job (January 2025)