Materials Science

What do a bulletproof vest and a plastic milk jug have in common? Or a diamond ring and pencil lead? They're actually made from similar materials. It all has to do with materials science. Scientists study the microscopic parts of materials such as plastic, glass, or stainless steel. They learn how each part makes something hard or soft, strong or weak, or good or bad at carrying heat. Then they use that knowledge to create supermaterials. Supermaterials help make better sports equipment, tinier computer chips, and much more. Learn how scientists are using tiny particles to make big inventions in this glimpse into twenty-first-century materials science.