A Material Girl

What is happening out there in the material world? What are we making? Looks like we"re getting way down into the molecular levels; and designing all sorts of interesting stuff. If you think that our technological advances have been moving rapidly, well, things are about to get a whole lot faster and more efficient. Life as we know it will change rather quickly, so hold on to your hats.

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of molecular structures. This technology will be the harbinger of a bright future, showering us with many gifts. Yes, this extremely small world will be used in water purification; new energy sources; hydrogen powered vehicles; virus detection; optical sensors; super lenses; effective drug targeting for cancer and antibiotics; tagging human cells; capturing carbon dioxide to prevent global warming; advanced electronic circuitry; and data storage; the list goes on and on, with new discoveries being made in record speed all over the globe. From research institutions and universities to private corporations and public companies, the exciting world of nanotechnology has just begun.

Another area in the material world is space exploration. We"ll probe the planets more extensively, and go well beyond our highest expectations. For me, Mars will be the planet of my lifetime. But oh, what a planet it is; full of exciting possibilities; water, life, and new natural resources? We"re getting up close and personal with the red planet and all sorts of data will be coming back to us; we"ll know our cousin in the solar system.

To accomplish more discovery, the latest technology includes asteroid mining; space blimps with artificial muscles; rocket-powered planes; space dust detectors; "elephant trunk" devices for lunar exploration; mechanic satellites; robotic balloons, earth-orbit rescue vehicles; space tugboats; anti-matter sails; and space elevators. The list continues to grow as innovation moves through this science at a rapid clip.

The material world is on a roll at lightening speed; touching our lives with the promise of a dazzling tomorrow.

If these new technologies are part of the dawn, then we should look toward the sun; and that, my friend is Material Science. It"s time to get right into the heart of our material world, and I always like to save the best part for last. Here it is; the votes are in for The Greatest Moments in Material Science and Engineering (from TMS, The Minerals, Metals, and Material Society).

Number 10 Bessemer Process - Inventor Henry Bessemer (1856) - a process for melting low-carbon iron which lead to an era of cheap steel; construction, general industrialization, and transportation.

Number 9 X-Ray Diffraction - The discovery of X-Ray Diffraction by Max von Laue in 1912, which lead to the development of diffraction of crystals.

Number 8 - Cu Extraction and Casting -- Around 5000 BC in the region of Turkey, a discovery of extracting molten metal and the casting of metal into shapes. Extractive metallurgy is introduced.

Number 7 - Crucible Steel Making - 300 BC in south India, the production of "wootz" steel. Used by blacksmiths and artisans for hundreds of years.

Number 6 - Modern Concrete - Invented by John Smeaton in 1755, the introduction of construction material for the modern age.

Number 5 - Optical Microscopy - Developed in 1668 by Anton van Leeuwenhoek, enabled the magnifications of 200 times and greater.

Number 4 - Invention of Glass - 2200 BC northwestern Iranians invent glass; the second greatest engineering material following ceramics.

Number 3 - Transistor - Invented in 1948 by John Bardeen, Walter H. Brattain and William Shockly. The building block for all electronics and the foundation for the microchip and computer technology.

Number 2 - Fe Smelting - 3500 BC Egyptians smelt iron. This becomes the world"s dominant metallurgical material.

And the Number 1 Moment in Material Science and Engineering goes to -- The Periodic Table of Elements - Devised by Dmitri Mendeleev in 1864. The indispensable reference for those in the field.

That"s the latest from a material girl.

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