MemeFlux

Three hundred layers of synthetic mother of pearl…

U-M research: New plastic is strong as steel, transparent

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—By mimicking a brick-and-mortar molecular structure found in seashells, University of Michigan researchers created a composite plastic that’s as strong as steel but lighter and transparent.

It’s made of layers of clay nanosheets and a water-soluble polymer that shares chemistry with white glue.

Engineering professor Nicholas Kotov almost dubbed it “plastic steel,” but the new material isn’t quite stretchy enough to earn that name. Nevertheless, he says its further development could lead to lighter, stronger armor for soldiers or police and their vehicles. It could also be used in microelectromechanical devices, microfluidics, biomedical sensors and valves and unmanned aircraft. (more…)

The scientists solved a problem that has confounded engineers and scientists for decades: Individual nano-size building blocks such as nanotubes, nanosheets and nanorods are ultrastrong. But larger materials made out of bonded nano-size building blocks were comparatively weak. Until now.

Via The Speculist

A future form of recreational travel? Like a leisurely train-trip taken to three dimensions, here’s a nice dream from BBC - cruising from London to Rome in 24 hours while enjoying the sights along the way at 450m altitude, wining, dining and sleeping well along the way.

Airships have been out of fashion since the Hindenburg, which is rather sad considering that they are a very safe and comfortable way of traveling.

Some companies produce airships today - The Zeppelin NT flown in the article above being the most accessible recreational option. Another prototype airship is Dynalifter, which is slightly heavier than air and intended for cargo loads of 160 tons with a speed of over 150 km/h.

Size matters, and with continuous improvements in materials technology, building larger, lighter and stable structures becomes cheaper over time (and while we’re at it, let’s cover them in solar panels) and while airplanes will still take care of the most time sensitive travel, it is not at all impossible that a new generation airships may mark the skies in the not too distant future. The cruise-in-the-sky idea is really more about marketing as the technology has been here for more then 100 years, so where is the first billionaire to grow tired of building brains, sailing 47-meter raido controlled boats, or the ol’ stop AIDS or play RL Championship Manager, to come help us all live the dream?