Harvard Scientists Say They've Created 'Rarest Material On The Planet' Metallic Hydrogen

CAMBRIDGE (CBS) – Harvard University researchers are touting a scientific breakthrough as something that could lead to "revolutionary new materials."

Science professor Isaac Silvera and his postdoctoral fellow Ranga Dias say they've created metallic hydrogen for the first time. The university says it's the rarest material on Earth and it could become one of the most valuable.

"This is the Holy Grail of high-pressure physics," Silvera said in a statement.

Metallic hydrogen was only a theory before. The researchers say they used diamonds to squeeze a small hydrogen sample with a pressure of 71.7 million pounds per square inch.

The new material could one day be used as a room temperature superconductor, which might make futuristic transportation, like levitating high-speed trains, feasible. Converting metallic hydrogen back to its molecular form would also release an enormous amount of energy that could propel rockets to make outer space exploration easier.

However, one scientific journal is casting doubt on the report. Nature says they've heard from five experts saying they want more evidence, questioning whether the material created is actually hydrogen.