Transparent Aluminum is "New State of Matter"

ScienceDaily ^ | 27 July 2009 | University of Oxford

[redpoll]

Oxford scientists have created a transparent form of aluminium by bombarding the metal with the world’s most powerful soft X-ray laser. ‘Transparent aluminium’ previously only existed in science fiction, featuring in the movie Star Trek IV, but the real material is an exotic new state of matter with implications for planetary science and nuclear fusion.

[redpoll]

All I can think about is Scotty providing the formula allowing us to process this material. LOL

[pnh102]

I guess we won’t be working with polymers anymore!

[jakerobins]

Cool..It would be awesome to have an aluminum roof to listen to the rain and still be able to see it as well......Interesting....

[Perdogg]

beat me to it.

[cranked]

Star Trek Ping?

[from occupied ga]

the invisible effect lasted for only an extremely brief period – an estimated 40 femtoseconds

[LiveAnotherDay]

I use to check this site alot

but their to liberally biased

keep talking about man-made “global warming” effecting things

[Dilbert San Diego]

Ya, I remember Scotty gave the guy in the 20th century the formula for transparent aluminum.

If I remember right, somebody asked Scotty about the ethics of giving a man in the 20th century that advanced technology, and Scotty said, how do we know that this 20th century guy didn’t invent transparent aluminum, or something along those lines.

[mudblood]

Funny, I first read about transparent metals in Larry Niven / Jerry Porenelle’s “Ringworld” series, written in 1970. Those guys are geniuses.

[Ben Mugged]

Whilst the invisible effect lasted for only an extremely brief period – an estimated 40 femtoseconds –

The entire power output of a city used to get aluminum to appear transparent for 40 femtoseconds. Just wow......

[COBOL2Java]

"Hello, computer?"

[fso301]

Any whales missing from a California seaquarium?

[tet68]

Baaah, Wonderwoman had an invisible plane years ago.

[Carl LaFong]

This reminds me of an old Amos & Andy TV episode where the Kingfish dreamed up a scam to sell “invisible glass” (nothing but air).

[andy58-in-nh]

How long is a “femtosecond”?

[4Speed]

ping

[absolootezer0]

formula has been around for a while, 1995 i think.

[KarlInOhio]

How long is a “femtosecond”?

One quadrillionth of a second. Light can travel about 12 millionths of an inch during it, or 0.0005 inches during the 40 femtoseconds of transparency. Better not get the thick aluminum for your window.

[Upstate NY Guy]

ping for later

[andy58-in-nh]

One quadrillionth of a second

Wow. That's impressive - and nearly as fast as a politician can break a promise.