  The latest concepts for quantum computing and data storage envision to
address and manipulate single spins. A limitation for single atoms or molecules
in contact to a metal surface are the short lifetime of excited spin states,
typically picoseconds, due to the exchange of energy and angular momentum with
the itinerant electrons of the substrate [1-4]. Here we show that paramagnetic
molecules on a superconducting substrate exhibit excited spin states with a
lifetime of approximately 10 ns. We ascribe this increase in lifetime by orders
of magnitude to the depletion of electronic states within the energy gap at the
Fermi level. This prohibits pathways of energy relaxation into the substrate
and allows for electrically pumping the magnetic molecule into higher spin
states, making superconducting substrates premium candidates for spin
manipulation. We further show that the proximity of the scanning tunneling
microscope tip modifies the magnetic anisotropy.
