Slashdot Mirror
Breakthough Makes Transparent Aluminum Affordable
frank249 writes: In the Star Trek universe, transparent aluminum is used in various fittings in starships, including exterior ship portals and windows. In real life, Aluminium oxynitride is a form of ceramic whose properties are similar to those of the fictional substance seen in Star Trek. It has a hardness of 7.7 Mohs and was patented in 1980. It has military applications as bullet-resistant armor, but is too expensive for widespread use.
Now, there has been a major breakthrough in materials science. After decades of research and development, the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory has created a transparent, bulletproof material that can be molded into virtually any shape. This material, known as Spinel (magnesium aluminate), is made from a synthetic powdered clay that is heated and pressed under vacuum into transparent sheets. Spinel weighs just a fraction of a modern bulletproof pane.
Now, there has been a major breakthrough in materials science. After decades of research and development, the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory has created a transparent, bulletproof material that can be molded into virtually any shape. This material, known as Spinel (magnesium aluminate), is made from a synthetic powdered clay that is heated and pressed under vacuum into transparent sheets. Spinel weighs just a fraction of a modern bulletproof pane.
Who cares... does it blend? Waiting...
Hello Computer... [no response] oh how quaint [begins rapidly using keyboard]
I still greet my computer this way sometimes.
Sure took them a long time, when they could have simply gotten a copy of "Star Trek, The Voyage Home", and pause the video when Scotty shows the molecular model on the screen.
Me? I want an invisible airplane like Wonderwoman's...
I just want wonderwoman. You can keep the imaginary airplane.
"Replicator, generate me some Earth cash. USA. Early 1980's, mixed denominations. Oh, and some tea, Earl Grey, hot."
Table-ized A.I.