graphene

I read an interesting article from the New York Times on two England physicists who won a Nobel Prize in physics for discovering graphene. The author of the article said, "Graphene is a form of carbon in which the atoms are arranged in a flat hexagon lattice like microscopic chicken wire, a single atom thick. It is not only the thinnest material in the world, but also one of the strongest and hardest" (Overbye). The pysicists used scotch tape to pull off layers of pencil lead graphite until they got the flakes of graphene down to the size of an atom. It was said that graphene is incredibly strong; if a layer of graphene were the width of plastic wrap, and then placed over a cup, a truck's weight would be supported if it were on top of it. Also it was said that graphene will be able to conduct electricity and heat better than anything that has ever been used before. It will improve other products, too--computer chips and television screens being a couple. I think it is so incredible when new discoveries are made in the world. I thought it was funny that the English men used scotch tape--such a simple, everyday object--to help discover the quality within pencil lead. I'm intersted to see how graphene will make a difference in the future; hopefully it won't take too long before they start making use out of it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/06/science/06nobel.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=graphene&st=cse