The LK-99 meme phenomenon began in July 2023 after South Korean researchers published papers claiming the discovery of a room-temperature, ambient-pressure superconductor. The internet quickly became obsessed with 'the floating rock,' a low-quality video showing a piece of material partially levitating over a magnet. This sparked a viral wave of 'science-posting,' where users oscillated between extreme optimism ('We are so back') and skepticism ('It's over') as labs around the world attempted to replicate the results. The meme represents the chaotic intersection of high-level physics and internet culture, symbolizing the collective hope for a technological utopia filled with flying cars and limitless energy.