Ranga P. Dias

Ranga P. Dias
Born
Sri Lanka
Alma materWashington State University
University of Colombo
Scientific career
FieldsSuperconductivity
InstitutionsUniversity of Rochester
Harvard University
ThesisPhase Transitions, Metallization, Superconductivity and Magnetic Ordering in Dense Carbon Disulfide and Chemical Analogs (2013)
Doctoral advisorChoong-shik Yoo
Websitelabsites.rochester.edu/dias

Ranga P. Dias is a researcher and academic who specializes in condensed matter physics. He is an assistant professor in the departments of Mechanical Engineering and Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester (UR), and a scientist at the UR Laboratory for Laser Energetics.

In 2020 and in 2023, his group published two papers claiming to have achieved room-temperature superconductivity, the first using carbonaceous sulfur hydride at extremely high pressure, and the second using nitrogen-doped lutetium hydride at near-ambient pressure. Both papers were later retracted after accusations of scientific misconduct, including data fabrication and manipulation.[1][2] Dias denied these charges, with an initial investigation by University of Rochester in 2020 reporting no evidence of misconduct.[3][4] However a later independent investigation performed by the American Physical Society did find such evidence,[5][6][7][8] and a March 2024 investigation by the University reported that Dias "engaged in research misconduct."[9]

As of 2024, Dias and his collaborator Ashkan Salamat at University of Nevada, Las Vegas have had five of their research papers retracted.[10][11]

Dias founded a company, Unearthly Materials, related to his research work, which was found to make misleading claims made about its funding and investors.[12]

  1. ^ Garisto, Dan (March 9, 2023). "Allegations of Scientific Misconduct Mount as Physicist Makes His Biggest Claim Yet". Physics. 16: 40. Bibcode:2023PhyOJ..16...40G. doi:10.1103/Physics.16.40. S2CID 257615348. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "Superconductor Now a Reality at Room Temperature -- But Not Room Pressure". Inside Science. October 14, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Garisto, Dan (2023). "'A very disturbing picture': another retraction imminent for controversial physicist". Nature. 620 (7972): 14–16. Bibcode:2023Natur.620...14G. doi:10.1038/d41586-023-02401-2. PMID 37491414. S2CID 260162594. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  6. ^ Staff, CT (July 23, 2023). "University professor sees second paper retracted under accusations of data fabrication". Campus Times. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  7. ^ Garisto, Dan. "Controversial Physicist Faces Mounting Accusations of Scientific Misconduct". Scientific American. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  8. ^ Chang, Kenneth (July 26, 2023). "A Looming Retraction Casts a Shadow Over a Field of Physics". The New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  9. ^ Subbaraman, Nidhi (March 20, 2024). "Superconductor Scientist Engaged in Research Misconduct, Probe Finds". Wall Street Journal.
  10. ^ Castelvecchi, Davide (November 7, 2023). "Nature retracts controversial superconductivity paper by embattled physicist". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-023-03398-4. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 37935863.
  11. ^ "Retraction Watch Database". Retraction Watch. Crossref. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  12. ^ Chant, Tim De (March 17, 2023). "Unearthly Materials claimed to have big-name investors, but they weren't all on board". TechCrunch. Retrieved March 24, 2023.