Instant Genius How future materials will help save the planet
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Apr 27, 2025 Mark Miodownik, a Professor of Materials and Society at University College London and a noted science communicator, explores the revolutionary future of materials. He shares the intriguing history of how materials like bronze advanced civilization. Miodownik discusses the potential of self-repairing and energy-generating buildings, alongside nano-machines transforming medicine. He emphasizes the crucial role of renewable energy materials and the impact of rare earth elements, hinting at a sustainable future intertwined with innovative technologies.
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Material Science Foundations
- Material science predates physics and chemistry and is fundamental to human civilization.
- Different ages like Stone, Copper, Bronze, and Iron are named after key materials that shaped human progress.
Rare Earths Power Green Tech
- Rare earth elements like neodymium are crucial for green technologies such as wind turbines and electric cars.
- Extracting these materials is energy-intensive and environmentally harmful, raising sustainability concerns.
Solar Cell Advances
- Passing only 1% of sunlight to electricity can meet global energy needs through solar cells.
- Perovskite solar materials are an exciting flexible alternative to traditional silicon solar cells.