Enlarge Image Strong as steel. Atom probe tomography suggests that packing zinc and magnesium atoms together in groups of various sizes (small spots) can greatly improve the strength of aluminum alloy. Credit: University of Sydney Snuffing out a cigarette butt with a 10-ton boot would be excessive, but using the equivalent on certain metals can yield amazing results. By smashing an aluminum alloy between two anvils, researchers have created a metal that's as strong as steel but much lighter. If the process can be commercialized, it could yield better components for aircraft and automobiles, as well as metal armor...
