[Myrddin]

Impressive. While it is very fast, is it capable of very fine control. Human muscle fibers come in a range from slow twitch to fast twitch. They are activated along an electrical continuum with more fibers recruited as the electrical stimulus increases. It there a similar continuum of operation, or does this stuff snap hard when electrical potential is applied? Does the material have any environmental weaknesses (temperature, UV light, ozone or other forms of chemical attack)?

[neverdem]

Does the material have any environmental weaknesses (temperature, UV light, ozone or other forms of chemical attack)?

It seems pretty stable over a wide range of temperature.

"Baughman is excited about another property of these muscles: their ability to withstand extreme temperatures. They keep their properties down to 80 K (-193ºC) and up to 1900 K (1627ºC), and Baughman sees no reason why these temperatures need be the limits - the reported temperature range was restricted only by their ability to make measurements in those conditions, he says."

[AFreeBird]

Does the material have any environmental weaknesses (temperature, UV light, ozone or other forms of chemical attack)?

Baughman is excited about another property of these muscles: their ability to withstand extreme temperatures. They keep their properties down to 80 K (-193ºC) and up to 1900 K (1627ºC), and Baughman sees no reason why these temperatures need be the limits — the reported temperature range was restricted only by their ability to make measurements in those conditions, he says.

Here's some aerogel at work. Neat stuff. Not the carbon nanotube stuff, but the original version, invented in some guys kitchen (IIRC) back in the 30's.