Revolutionary Material: Lighter and Stronger Than Steel

Scientists from the University of Connecticut and collaborators have developed a highly durable and lightweight material by constructing a structure using DNA and coating it with glass. The resulting material, with its nanolattice structure, exhibits a unique combination of strength and low density, making it potentially useful in applications such as vehicle manufacturing and body armor. The material is four times stronger but five times lighter than steel, and the researchers are now exploring the use of even stronger carbide ceramics in the DNA structure for further improvements.