Photons that aren't actually there influence superconductivity

Scientists discovered that virtual photons—particles of light that don't actually exist but still exert electromagnetic forces—can influence superconductivity by making it perform worse. Using boron nitride, a material with layered hexagonal sheets similar to graphene, researchers created conditions where these non-existent photons accumulate in strong electromagnetic fields and interact with superconducting materials. This breakthrough demonstrates quantum mechanics' strange properties and may eventually provide new insights into superconductivity.