Search This Blog

Showing posts with label science metal lattice new. Show all posts
Showing posts with label science metal lattice new. Show all posts

Monday, November 21, 2011

Breakthrough metal is barely heavier than air

Researchers at a lab in California have created a new type of metal, that is almost as light as air.
The super-low density of this metal lattice means it can perch with no trouble on a dandelion.
This metal could be used to make new cars or airplanes, it would save a lot of fuel. It's a strong metal but it's mostly made of air. When it's squashed, it rebounds out to 98% of its original height. The metal was made out of lattice of interconnected hollow tubes with a wall thickness of only 100 nanometers, which is 1,000 times thinmer than a human hair. Doesn't sound too strong, but some scientists disagree.