Abstract
By the end of the 1980s science stories had once again taken on the positive tone of the 1960s. Based empirically on the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity which occurred in the IBM laboratory in Zurich in 1986. this paper presents a detailed comparative analysis of how the press reported in both the US and German-speaking countries. In the American press a strong story full of fancy details was developed over a long period of time. showing clearly the importance of national context for the creation of a public image of science. The paper identifies the six major ingredients which, in the US case, allowed the construction of this scientific success story: political and economic interest; the flair of `little' science; the presence of hero scientists; the possibility of staging an international race; the absence of obvious risk; and, finally, the story's role as a counterbalance to political dissatisfaction. The more of these conditions that are relevant in a particular national context, the easier it is to sustain the story over a longer period of time, and thus to shape a positive public image of this research.
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