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> discovered a behavior in materials called cuprates that suggests they carry current in a way entirely different from conventional metals such as copper.

Well, cuprates are copper-based molecules, so a better wording would be "they carry current in a way entirely different from metallic copper or other metals."

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No, that would be as if I said Water is less flammable than Hydrogen and you had replied: "But Water is just Oxygenated Hydrogen!!"

No, you're missing a level of subtlety. The author made it sound like there was no relationship between cuprates and copper, but in fact cuprate molecules include copper atoms. In fact, cuprates are a new family of superconductors because of their copper content.

Your metaphor doesn't add any information, since water is less flammable than hydrogen.

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