TechWatch: "Buckypaper"

It has the potential to be 100 times stronger than steel, but ten times later. The AP ran a story today on a new discovery called "buckypaper" that is being developed by researchers at Florida State University. It looks like normal carbon paper, but is actually made of "carbon nanotubes." These are tube-shaped carbon molecules that, when pressed together into a composite, form an incredibly strong bond. And unlike other composite materials, buckypaper conducts electricity extremely well. The aerospace industry in particular views this technology as potentially its saving grace. In the meantime, this may be the first "nanotech" product to go mainstream, as researchers say that they may be making products in a year or so. If you've read any recent science fiction, you're aware of the potential technological revolution this may precede. Nanotechnology is the use of tiny machines to perform tasks, with the creation of ultra-strong materials only one application.

Positives: If we can create a material with the properties and strength of metal but much lighter, the potential uses are myriad to say the least. I mentioned the aerospace industry. If the plane is ten times lighter, think of the fuel savings. Fuel costs are what's really killing that industry right now. The same can probably be said of automobiles, which could not only save fuel but be made much safer. Buckypaper could also be used very soon to create more efficient electrodes for batteries and those newfangled fuel cells, as well as more durable heat shielding for computers. In the long term, the substance could theoretically be used for almost anything.

Negatives: Well, there's a theory going around that it could cause cancer a la asbestos, which would be, y'know, bad. Also, many people are afraid that nanotechnology could cause the end of the world, via the so-called "Gray Goo" theory. This is nothing that could trigger that scenario, but it's a step in the direction. Michael Crichton even wrote a novel about it. In the non-end-of-the-world sector, there are still some kinks to work out, though scientists are confident they'll be able to.

Will It Catch On?: Probably, though it's tough to tell at this point. Definitely not if the cancer business turns out to be true. The fact that this already has heavy backing from Lockheed Martin makes its appearance on the scene more likely.

A note on the name: It's called "buckypaper" because the carbon nanotubes are based on the recently discovered carbon molecule "buckminsterfullerene," which is in-turn named after the scientist, architect, visonary, etc. Buckminster Fuller.