Australian researchers have discovered that diamond nanothreads (one-dimensional diamond crystals capped with hydrogen) could be extremely strong. While scientists thought they were brittle when announced just a month ago, it turns out that they become supremely flexible (and thus durable) when you introduce the right kinds of defects. You could create nanoscopic structures that are just as strong as you need them to be, with a ‘perfect’ mix of bendy and rigid shapes.
The nanothreads have only been tested in simulations so far. So long as their behavior translates well to the real world, though, they could have all kinds of uses.
via Engadget
Image: Getty Images/Flickr RF
