9 amazing uses for graphene, from filtering seawater to smart paint

Digital ^ | January 14, 2014 | By Luke Dormehl

[Swordmaker]

Graphene is a single layer of graphite — also known as that soft material commonly found in pencil lead — with the atoms arranged in a honeycomb-like, hexagonal pattern. While that description is decidedly unexciting, graphene is actually emerging as one of science’s most versatile new materials.

Just one atom thick (or thin, depending on how you think about it), graphene is among the strongest materials in the known universe, with 100 times the strength of steel, an astonishing amount of flexibility, and a whole lot of other talents lurking beneath the surface.

Do you remember that classic scene from The Simpsons in which Homer is offered “wax lips,” described by the salesman as “the candy of 1,000 uses?” Well, graphene is the wax lips of the material science world. And while we don’t have time to detail 1,000 uses, here are some of the most exciting graphene discoveries made so far.

• CREATING THE WORLD’S THINNEST LIGHT BULB

• ACTING AS A SUPERCONDUCTOR

• A BETTER SPEAKER SYSTEM

• BODY ARMOR STRONGER THAN DIAMONDS

• FILTERING SALT FROM SEAWATER OR COLOR FROM WHISKY

• THE PAINT OF THE FUTURE

• TRACKING OUR HEALTH

• RECHARGING OUR GADGETS

• CREATING SOME KICKASS RUNNING SHOES

[Bellflower]

graphene ping :+)

[Bellflower]

Fertile grounds for research, invention and patenting.

.....and investing!

[upchuck]

Thanks for the ping Bellflower.

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