In This Issue the Structure Consists of Nanometers, the Diameter of in Addition to Its Ultra- Torrents and Lorenzo Valdevit 99.99% Open Volume
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The California Tech [email protected] VOLUME CXV NUMBER 9 PASADENA , CALIFORNIA TE C H .C ALTE C H .EDU NO V EMBER 21, 2011 Caltech researchers create lightest solid material KIMM FESENMAIER The new material, called a LLC, and lead author on the centimeters (but might one day be as 50 percent, making it excellent at Science Writer micro-lattice, relies, appropriately, report described it as “a lattice of made meters in length). absorbing energy. on a lattice architecture: tiny hollow interconnected hollow tubes with a Just as with large-scale “The emergence of the unique When you pick up the newest tubes made of nickel-phosphorous wall thickness of 100 nanometers, structures, such as the Eiffel Tower, properties of these ultra-light material in Julia Greer’s micro-lattice structures office, it takes a second is due, in part, to the for your mind to adjust. different mechanical Despite its looks, the little behavior that emerges brick of metal weighs in nano-sized solids, next to nothing. which is the focus of my Greer, assistant research,” Greer says. professor of materials Her team uses science and mechanics, a machine called a is part of a team of SEMentor, which is both researchers from Caltech, an electron microscope HRL Laboratories, LLC, and a nanoindenter, to and the University of visualize the deformation California, Irvine, who of nano-sized structures have developed the and to concurrently world’s lightest solid measure mechanical material, with a density properties, such as how of just 0.9 milligrams much force it takes to per cubic centimeter, or break a material, how approximately 100 times much energy it can lighter than Styrofoam™. absorb, and how much it Though the material is stretches. ultra-low in density, it The extremely small has incredible strength wall thickness-to- and absorbs energy well, diameter ratio in the making it potentially micro-lattice material useful for applications makes the individual ranging from battery tubes ductile (i.e. they do electrodes to protective not fail catastrophically); shielding. at higher aspect ratios, the “We’re entering a new material simply collapses era of materials science and cannot recover. where material properties The research appears are determined not in the November only by the microscopic 18 issue of Science. The ultralight metallic lattice displayed above is easily supported by a budding sunflower. makeup of the material - features.caltech.edu Additional coauthors on but also by the the report, “Ultralight architecture of the constituents,” are angled to connect at nodes, 1,000 times thinner than a human where order and hierarchy can lead Metallic Lattices,” include Caltech Greer says. forming repeating, asterisklike unit hair.” to more efficient use of materials postdoctoral scholar Jane Lian, cells in three dimensions. The material takes advantage and improved properties, the as well as Alan Jacobsen, Adam Everything between the of a hierarchical design: the wall same can be achieved by ordering Sorensen, and Bill Carter from tubes is open air. In fact, thickness can be measured in materials on a tiny scale. HRL Laboratories, and Anna In this issue the structure consists of nanometers, the diameter of In addition to its ultra- Torrents and Lorenzo Valdevit 99.99% open volume. each tube can be measured in low density, the micro-lattice’s from the University of California, Tobias Schaedler, a microns, each tube is millimeters hierarchical architecture allows it Irvine. The research was funded by research staff scientist in length, and the entire micro- to recover almost completely from the Defense Advanced Research at HRL Laboratories, lattice material can be measured in loads that compress it by as much Projects Agency. NEWS Letters to the Editors3 News briefs from around the globe OPINION Helping readers burst out of the Caltech bubble Overload policy4 is flawed !""#$%&$'(&) *++ !!!!!!!!!!!!! #$%&'!()$*+!+,-!#$%.&!+,/'!#--0!1!+$2/3'!'$%+-&!4%$5!6$$&!+$!)(&! FEATURE ! 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THE CALIFORNIA TECH 2 NO V EMBER 21, 2011 NEWS Food with Mannion! CHILLAX – A relaxation Do you like eating food? group for stress management How about free food at nice restaurants? Mondays 12-1; October 24 – November 28, Winnett Lounge Ever want to tell the world exactly what you think of FREE said food? The Tech will be beginning a new column to chroni- Health education and the counseling center are proud to sponsor a 6 week to educate and teach students how to cle the foodie experiences of new writers every other manage their stress. The group will cover time management, week...The Catch: They’ll be going head-to-head with muscle relaxation, getting great sleep, mindfulness meditation and dealing with holiday and exam related stress. Tom Mannion who will be reviewing the same restau- Lunch is not provided but there will be participation prizes rant. If you have ever thought you were more of a gour- and giveaways. mand than our resident master chef, now’s your chance to prove it! November 21 – Mindfulness meditation Email us for a spot on the list at [email protected] Come join us this week as we focus on mindfulness meditation. It’s a great way to become more engaged in the present moment, and to put some distance between yourself The California Tech and your unpleasant thoughts. Caltech 40-58, Pasadena, CA 91125 advertising e-mail: [email protected] Write editorial e-mail: [email protected] November 28 – Coping with holiday and exam stress Editors-in-Chief Jonathan Schor articles Stanford Schor News Editor Sandhya Chandrasekaran for the Feynman Sports Editor Amol Kamat Tech teaching award nominations Staff NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITE PROFESSOR FOR THE Sam Barnett FEYNMAN TEACHING PRIZE!!! Brandon Comella Kelly Douglas Casey Handmer Here’s your chance to nominate your favorite professor Nerissa Hoglen for the 2011-12 Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence Jonathan Ikpeazu Ishan Khetarpal in Teaching! You have from now until January 2, 2012 to Rebecca Lawler submit your nomination package to the Provost’s Office Jomya Lei Suna Li to honor a professor who demonstrates, in the broadest Brian Merlob sense, unusual ability, creativity, and innovation in Mary Nguyen undergraduate and graduate classroom or laboratory Neha Samdaria Eugene Vinitsky teaching. Elisa Walsh Vivian Yang Caroline Yu The Feynman Prize is made possible through the Chris Zheng generosity of Ione and Robert E. Paradise, with Yang Hu additional contributions from an anonymous local couple. Nominations for the Feynman Teaching Prize are welcome from faculty, students, postdoctoral scholars, Circulation Manager staff, and alumni. Kyle Martin Advisor All professorial faculty of the Institute are eligible. The Richard Kipling prize consists of a cash award of $3,500, matched by an equivalent raise in the annual salary of the awardee. 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