Most elements are not superconductive, but they still fall into the categories of three basic types of matter that determine how well a material can conduct electricity:

• Conductors allow electricity to pass through them easily. At the atomic level, the material must have gaps in its electron fields -- free spaces for loose electrons to settle. Many metals are conductors.
• Insulators don't allow electricity to pass through them at all. At the atomic level, insulators have no spaces in which free electrons can take hold -- they are sealed off to electrical activity. Ceramic is a common insulator; glass is another.
• Semiconductors don't easily conduct electricity, but they do allow room for some electrons to travel under certain circumstances. In some cases, a semiconductor acts as an insulator, and in others, it acts as a conductor. Silicon is a common example of a semiconductor.

But when does an element cross over into the world of superconductivity? Only some metals and ceramics have the potential to be superconductors. Superconductivity, which means that electrons can zoom through the material without resistance, is achieved when the material is cooled to its critical temperature. This temperature usually ranges from close to absolute zero (-459 F, 0 K or -273 C) to liquid nitrogen temperatures (-321 F, 77 K or -196 C). Some elements have zero electrical resistance at these super-cold temperatures. When zero electrical resistance is achieved, the substance is superconductive [source: CERN].

Today's superconductors can handle a much higher magnetic load than those of the past, and because of this, scientists are looking at using them in some of the newer power technologies, like highly efficient wind turbines or various types of energy storage systems [source: CCAS].