[Dark Knight]

Great! Now we can have that transparent aluminum Scotty talked about. Or at least nanophase aluminum.<<

How about this stuff now?

A ceramic research lab in Dresden, Germany, has developed transparent Alumina by subjecting fine-grained (I'm guessing extremely fine-grained) aluminum to a whopping 1200 degrees Celsius ...the result of which is amazingly light but three times tougher than hardened steel of the same thickness, and it's see-through.

http://www.rense.com/general20/transparentalum.htm

DK

[grey_whiskers]

A ceramic research lab in Dresden, Germany, has developed transparent Alumina

Yes, but you can't use it to make protective hats...the enemy can literally see your thoughts ;-)

[takebackaustin]

People, please put on your reading glasses.

Alumina ( not aluminum ) is Al₂O₃. Transparent alumina is no more transparent aluminum than rock salt is transparent sodium. Ruby and sapphire are transparent alumina.

As to the original article: micro hat, pico cattle.