Chance discovery of graphene wins 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics

Graphene is the thinnest, strongest material known to man that conducts electricity and heat better than any substance. The 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics, and the $1.4 million dollar award that goes with it, were awarded to a duo of Russian researchers who found graphene. Graphene’s unique qualities have captivated researchers across the globe who are seeking quantum leaps in technological innovation that could impact existence on Earth in profound ways. Article resource – Graphene discovery earns Russian pair 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics by Personal Money Store.

Graphene uses Scotch tape in finding

Graphene was found at Manchester University. It was discovered by Nobel laureates Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov. The NY Times accounts that when investigating the electrical properties of graphite, they tried peeling layers of it off with Scotch tape. A single atom thick of carbon is what they ended up with. Graphene is so thin and powerful, the Times said a sheet stretched over a coffee cup will support the weight of a truck bearing down on a pencil point. Graphene may be able for making sure there is no more silicon in computer chips, help flat screen TVs be transform, alter exploration in physics and even work as a pollution monitoring material due to its ability to conduct electricity and create heat.

Existence may entirely transform with graphene

Geim told CNN he envisioned that graphene applications could transform everyday life much like plastic did. The material is two dimensional with the hexagonal array of carbon atoms. These atoms are arranged really specifically. The flexible abilities of graphene make it “fundamentally different” from graphite. It has a special ability about it. According to Graphene Industries, which works closely with Geim, two-dimensional materials like graphene give scientists access to materials of any dimension, including zero-dimensional atoms and one-dimensional nanowires. Cable News Network wrote that Geim said graphene can do innumerable amounts of things. It could never even be counted.

Coming points of interest in graphene technology

Graphene is a common substance around the world. Numerous laboratories are experimenting with it. One thing was discovered by scientists at the University of CA, Berkeley. It was found, says PC World, that graphene is like a magnetic field when it is being stretched out. This property of the material could have a major impact on how the smallest parts of electronic devices are made. According to Science, technological innovation could possibly be changing with a discovery in South Korea. Researchers figured out how to get sheets large enough to act as a touch screen much better than the ones we have now.

Citations

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/10/06/science/06nobel.html?_r=1 and hp

CNN

edition.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/10/05/sweden.nobel.physics/

PC World

pcworld.com/article/206931/graphene_nanobubbles_could_mean_more_powerful_gadgets.html?tk=hp_new