Superconductivity is the ability of certain materials to conduct electricity without resistance below a critical temperature. Heike Kammerlingh Onnes first discovered superconductivity in 1911 when he found mercury had no resistance at 4.2K. Superconductors can carry large currents and magnetic fields and have applications in maglev trains, MRI machines, and particle accelerators due to their ability to generate powerful magnetic fields. While superconductors offer benefits like reduced energy loss, their use is limited by the need for cryogenic cooling below their transition temperature.