Computer graphics representation of the crystal structure of one of the new generation of high- temperature superconductors - bismuth-strontium- calcium-copper oxide. Intense worldwide research into high-temperature superconductors was sparked in early 1987 by the discovery of superconducting properties at around 90 K in a ceramic, yttrium- barium-copper oxide. The new bismuth-based superconductor was developed in Japan in 1988 through endeavours to attain superconducting behaviour at a higher temperature (around 130 K) using cheaper components than the expensive rare earth metals such as yttrium which were constituents of the original superconductors. Refs: Science, Vol 239, pp1015-1017, 1988