by Nomad
If one professor's
vision is correct, then the future may hardly be recognizable. The development
of meta-materials has been evolving more quickly that anybody could have
expected.
One thing is certain. The
technology will give rise to completely new materials with extraordinary
properties and will change the nature of
construction.
And it's just around the corner.
In her fast-paced lecture, Greer explained how, by using a combination of
techniques, scientists of the near future will be able to create new materials-
meta-materials- with mind-bending properties. Building materials, for example,
which can be strong or stronger than steel and yet weigh one million times
lighter. That's not a random number pulled out of a hat.
"Imagine
a world where the next generation of planes are just as powerful and just as
efficient but weigh as little as a toy airplane? Imagine a world where the
total amount of material used to construct a bridge the size of the Golden Gate is small enough to hold in the palm of your
hand? We believe we have found a way to bring that world closer to reality."
So how is it possible? In Greer's lecture, she explains the process in detail. The fabrication
technique is actually a synthesis of technologies, namely, architectural
design, material science and nanotechnology, all working an incredibly small
scale. It's like playing God with a molecular-sized 3D printer.