Science View S2014E22 - Iron is a Hot Topic

The focus of attention is a common metal: Iron. In 2008, Professor Hideo Hosono discovered iron-based superconductors. This caused a wave of excitement in scientific circles, as iron had previously been written off as a superconductor material due to its strong magnetic properties. Meanwhile, former Visiting Professor Kenji Abiko found a way to produce 99.9999% pure iron. Malleable and rust-resistant, it has characteristics that ordinary iron doesn't possess, and is used to make high-performance alloys.