Researchers have developed a highly robust material with an extremely low density by constructing a structure using DNA and subsequently coating it in glass. Materials possessing both strength and lightness have the potential to enhance everything from automobiles to body armor. But usually, the tw

Scientists Create New Material Five Times Lighter and Four Times Stronger Than Steel::Researchers have developed a highly robust material with an extremely low density by constructing a structure using DNA and subsequently coating it in glass. Materials possessing both strength and lightness have the potential to enhance everything from automobiles to body armor. But usually, the tw

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
      25·
      1 year ago

      I feel ya. People have been promising spider-silk as a building material for the last 30 years.

      However, we also started making heavy use of plastics back in the 70s, and that’s definitely been a revolutionary material in practically every industrial field.

      • Geek_King@lemmy.worldEnglish
        15·
        1 year ago

        And boy, do I wish plastic didn’t take off like that. Every new finding about how many particles slough off, and get breathed in or ingested, it makes me wish we were still using metal, wood, and glass, for packaging.

        In reference to the article, I think the number one consideration is scalability of production. Producing a new material in laboratory to the tune of a few grams is a far cry from using the same process to produce tons of usable product in a factory.

        Here’s hoping that they can move this into an industrial process quick so we can see some benefits.

        • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
          4·
          1 year ago

          Every new finding about how many particles slough off, and get breathed in or ingested, it makes me wish we were still using metal, wood, and glass, for packaging.

          I mean… maybe? There are a host of environmental costs to those as well. Certainly, the nice thing about plastic is that its cheap to mold where as metal and wood and glass take a lot more energy to manipulate. The problem is that its too cheap, and so it gets used far in excess of its long term utility.

          I think the number one consideration is scalability of production.

          Sure. Which is why I’m not holding my breath. But new materials can be useful even if they aren’t cheap.

    • Curious Canid@lemmy.caEnglish
      4·
      1 year ago

      Keep in mind that it takes a lot of time to move things like this from discovery to practical applications. Testing a new material and finding that it has amazing properties is comparatively easy. Checking every possible complication and side-effect is time-consuming, but important. You don’t want to start manufacturing cars using the stuff and then find out that it explodes on contact with water.

  • atx_aquarian@lemmy.worldEnglish
    121·
    1 year ago

    I am a big fan of Iron Man movies, and I have always wondered how to create a better armor for Iron Man.

    This is what life is all about.

  • darvocet@infosec.pubEnglish
    10·
    1 year ago

    Someone should make a submarine from it and we could ferry billionaires down to the titanic for a photo shoot.

  • Redward@yiffit.netEnglish
    10·
    1 year ago

    But is it cost effective, the most reasons we don’t see many of these new materials is because it’s cost of producing outweighs the needs for it.