9 Materials of the Future that Will Change the World

Summary

SciShow explores futuristic materials like transparent aluminum from Star Trek, aerogels for insulation, microscopic invisibility cloaks, superhydrophobic surfaces, hyperdiamonds harder than diamonds, metallic glasses, metallic foams, and self-healing concrete. These materials, from science fiction to reality, have potential applications in construction, technology, and space exploration.

Takeaways

• 🚀 Transparent aluminum, as featured in Star Trek IV, is not just science fiction; it exists and is known as aluminum oxynitride, which is nearly as hard as sapphire.
• 🌌 Aerogels are among the lightest solid materials and are used for insulation in spacesuits and spacecraft due to their poor heat conductivity.
• 🧙‍♂️ Scientists are developing materials that could lead to invisibility cloaks by manipulating light with tiny gold antennas to hide objects from view.
• 💧 Superhydrophobic materials mimic nature's waterproof surfaces, like the lotus leaf, using microscopic roughness to repel water.
• 💎 Aggregated diamond nanorods, or hyperdiamonds, are harder than diamonds and could be used in industrial applications where extreme durability is required.
• 🔩 Metallic glass, or amorphous metal, has a random atomic structure providing a unique combination of strength and flexibility.
• 🧼 Metallic foams are lightweight and strong, with potential uses in shock absorption and lightweight construction materials.
• 🛸 Aluminum oxynitride is used in applications requiring transparency and strength, such as bulletproof windows and durable camera lenses.
• 🌉 Light-transmitting concrete incorporates optical fibers to allow light to pass through, maintaining strength while adding a new aesthetic possibility.
• 🔬 Self-healing concrete uses bacteria to fill and repair cracks, potentially extending the lifespan of concrete structures with minimal maintenance.

Q & A

What is transparent aluminum and where was it first mentioned?

Transparent aluminum is a fictional material from the movie Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, where it was described as a lighter, sturdier, and futuristic alternative to plexiglass. It was supposed to be so strong that it made up the viewports of the Enterprise.

Does transparent aluminum actually exist in real life?

Yes, transparent aluminum actually exists. It is known as aluminum oxynitride and is composed of aluminum, oxygen, and nitrogen. It is a ceramic that is transparent and extremely strong, nearly as hard as sapphire.

What is an aerogel and how is it made?

Aerogel is one of the lightest solid materials in the world. It is made by replacing the liquid in a gel with gas, creating a porous, lightweight material that retains its shape. The process involves making a gel from silicon or carbon compounds and then using high temperatures and pressures to create a supercritical fluid, which is then replaced by air.

What are some uses for aerogels?

Aerogels are used for insulation due to their poor heat conductivity. They are commonly used in spacesuit and spacecraft linings and have potential future uses in insulating windows on Earth when the cost is reduced.

How does the invisibility cloak technology work?

The invisibility cloak technology works by using tiny brick-shaped gold antennas to counteract the natural light distortion around an object. When wrapped in the cloak, light bouncing off the object appears as if it's coming from a flat mirror, hiding the object's presence.

What is the current state of invisibility cloak technology?

The technology currently exists at a microscopic level, where it can hide tiny objects. Scientists are working on scaling up the technology to make larger objects invisible.

What is superhydrophobic material and how does it work?

Superhydrophobic materials are extremely waterproof. They work by having microscopically rough surfaces that trap air and minimize interaction with water droplets. These materials can be made with coatings containing aluminum oxide nanoparticles or with surfaces covered in tiny ridges or polymer cones.

What are some applications of superhydrophobic materials?

Superhydrophobic materials can protect electronics and medical devices from water damage. They may also be used to prevent ice formation on cars or algae growth on ships.

What is hyperdiamond and how is it made?

Hyperdiamond, also known as aggregated diamond nanorods, is the hardest, most dense, and least compressible material known. It is made up of many tiny, interlocked diamond crystals. It is created in a lab by applying extreme heat and pressure to graphite.

What are metallic glasses and how do they differ from traditional metals?

Metallic glasses, also known as amorphous metals, are metals with a random arrangement of atoms, unlike the ordered crystalline structure of traditional metals. They are made by cooling molten metal very quickly, preventing the atoms from arranging into a crystal pattern. This gives them a combination of strength and malleability.

What are metallic foams and what makes them unique?

Metallic foams are made up of a metal, such as aluminum, with many gas-filled pores, making them super light while retaining the original properties of the metal. They can be open-pored, creating interconnected gas pores, or closed-pored, where the gas bubbles are separated, allowing them to float in water.

How does self-healing concrete work?

Self-healing concrete combines engineering with microbiology by embedding bacteria that can create limestone directly in the concrete. The bacteria lie dormant until water seeping in dissolves biodegradable capsules filled with bacteria and their food source, triggering them to produce limestone that fills in the cracks.