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Presto chango! Dumping graphene oxide particles in water (top) causes them to begin binding together spontaneously into superstrong sheets.Credit: Rod Ruoff Researchers have developed a remarkably simple way to convert ordinary graphite particles into very thin but superstrong sheets that are tougher than steel and as flexible as carbon fiber but can be made much more cheaply. The discovery could spawn entirely new types of materials for applications as diverse as protective coatings, electronic components, batteries, and fuel cells. For tensile strength and stiffness, carbon is king. So it's no surprise that scientists have been working for years to develop...