A team of researchers at the University of Toronto, led by engineer Tobin Filleter, has developed a new nanomaterial that is incredibly strong and lightweight. The material, which is made of pyrolytic carbon, was designed using an AI algorithm that was trained to recognize the best geometric structure for a given material. The resulting nanolattice is incredibly strong, able to support over a million times its own mass, yet is as light as Styrofoam. This means it could have a wide range of applications, including in medical equipment, such as prosthetics, and in aerospace, where it could be used to create lighter vehicles that require less fuel. The team also notes that the material could be used in “aerospace, ballistics absorption, ultrafast response for optics, and many other contemporary design applications.” The researchers were able to scale up the production of the material, which is typically a challenge with nanomaterials, and they believe it has the potential to revolutionize the field of materials design. While it may not be as mythical as vibranium, this new material has impressive strength-to-weight ratio, making it a promising development for a variety of industries.
Breakthrough in nanotechnology: Scientists design a unprecedentedly light yet incredibly robust material
