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The World's Longest Carbon Nanotube

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the woot-nanohair-different-color-every-week dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "As you probably know, carbon nanotubes have very interesting mechanical, electrical and optical properties. The problem, currently, is that they're too small (relatively speaking) to be of much use. Now, researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) have developed a process to build extremely long aligned carbon nanotube arrays. They've been able to produce 18-mm-long carbon nanotubes which might be spun into nanofibers. Such electrically conductive fibers could one day replace copper wires. The researchers say their nanofibers could be used for applications such as nanomedicine, aerospace and electronics."

15 of 142 comments (clear)

  1. Wow by jswigart · · Score: 5, Funny

    So perhaps the internet will indeed become a series of tubes?

    1. Re:Wow by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 4, Funny

      Maybe. Maybe in an odd twist, the Internet might actually become a large fleet of nano-trucks.

    2. Re:Wow by ScrewMaster · · Score: 4, Funny

      That's a scary thought ... Ted Stevens actually being prophetic, rather than just wrong.

      --
      The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  2. One nanotube: two birds by ian_mackereth · · Score: 4, Funny
    So, not only will we get light, cheap, immensely strong conductors, we'll also have a good market-driven reason to get all that valuable carbon out of the atmosphere!

    Voila! No more global warming!

    8-)}

  3. Come again by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Extremely long"?

    Perhaps 18 mm stands for... 18 million miles?

    1. Re:Come again by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Perhaps 18 mm stands for... 18 million miles?
      18mm is extremely long for most nerds
    2. Re:Come again by gringer · · Score: 2, Funny

      you misspelt "pond"

      --
      Ask me about repetitive DNA
  4. As Mork would say... by sycodon · · Score: 3, Funny

    Nano nano nano.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  5. ZOMG BOYKOTT R0L4ND!1! by pestie · · Score: 4, Funny

    Did I get it right in the subject line? Apparently all Slashdotters are supposed to hate this Roland guy, right? God, I just want so desperately to be loved...

  6. That's what she said by Syberghost · · Score: 2, Funny

    (eom)

  7. Re:Now where s my space elevator? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    18mm? Can be spun together into longer fibers? Get me to space.

    Forget space. I just want my flying car they promised me ten years ago.

  8. 18 mm... Great! by camperdave · · Score: 3, Funny

    18 millimetres? Great, only 99,999.999982 km to go!

    --
    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  9. My microtube is bigger than your nanotube by mrbluze · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... do you think they could be compensating for something?

    --
    Do it yourself, because no one else will do it yourself. [beta blockade 10-17 Feb]
  10. World's Tallest Midget by Luyseyal · · Score: 1, Funny

    In other news, Bjorn Stevens, world's tallest midget, and jumbo shrimp decry military intelligence in Iraq peace action.

    -l

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  11. Great... by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now we're going to get spam advertising ways to lengthen our nanotubes...