Did Kamerlingh Onnes believe resistance could be eliminated?
The complete vanishing of electrical resistance was, indeed, a surprising observation. Prior to our experiments, one might have expected resistance to diminish steadily as temperature decreased, approaching zero asymptotically. However, the discovery of superconductivity showed it was a more dramatic transition. My focus was always on precise measurement and empirical evidence. 'Resistance is not futile; it is a guide.' In the case of superconductivity, the guide led us to a state where classical resistance ceased to exist. This was not a theoretical prediction that we sought to confirm, but an unexpected experimental outcome that demanded explanation. The apparatus must be perfect, for nature is unforgiving; and in this instance, nature revealed a profound property.
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