![The key to finding this 'impossible' material might be a nuclear explosion](https://cdn.magzter.com/1439560219/1670859800/articles/0TPsaFEch1671085069488/THE-KEY-TO-FINDING-THIS-IMPOSSIBLE-MATERIAL-MIGHT-BE-A-NUCLEAR-EXPLOSION.jpg)
When the US military detonated a plutonium bomb over the New Mexico desert on 16 July 1945, sand fused with copper cables that stretched to the top of the bomb's detonation tower, forming a glassy mineral called red trinitite.
From a sample of this mineral, Luca Bindi, PhD, a mineralogist at the University of Florence in Italy, and his colleagues were able to isolate a previously undiscovered quasicrystal. The discovery, announced earlier this year in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could shed light on how these unusual grains form. It's the oldest anthropogenic quasicrystal found yet.
Quasicrystal alloys could be used in LED lights, diesel engines, and even surgical instruments. Thanks to their characteristic hardness and slipperiness, they could act as a substitute for the Teflon coating on cookware, and could be added to steel alloys to strengthen body armour. And because of their low heat conductivity, some types of quasicrystals could be tapped to develop heat-insulating coatings. The physical properties of these mysterious microstructures depend on two things: the elements that make up the material, and the arrangement of those elements.
Denne historien er fra January/February 2023-utgaven av Popular Mechanics South Africa.
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Denne historien er fra January/February 2023-utgaven av Popular Mechanics South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![Can a retired rocket engine take us to Mars?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11056/1156615/HBZ7s5Tly1671089055779/crp_Rocketdyne-Spaceflights-Space-Launch-System-NASA-SpaceX-Cernan-The-Moon-Artemis-mission-Orion-spacecraft.jpg)
Can a retired rocket engine take us to Mars?
The space shuttle's main engine was mothballed with the programme in 2011. Now NASA believes it's the future of interplanetary travel.
![6 metre waves. All engines on fire. 1 500 Km from land.](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11056/1156615/AQ25SNNcw1671087324663/crp_6-METRE-WAVES-ALL-ENGINES-ON-FIRE-1-500-KM-FROM LAND.jpg)
6 metre waves. All engines on fire. 1 500 Km from land.
How Flying Tiger 923 and its 'miracle pilot' made an impossible ocean landing.
![Land Rover Discovery D300](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11056/1156615/ZMs26UV_i1671091308440/LAND-ROVER-DISCOVERY-D300.jpg)
Land Rover Discovery D300
A FEW MONTHS ago a $2 billion lottery jackpot was won in the United States. It’s fun to sometimes ponder outrageous winnings like that, and how I’d spend it, even if it’s completely detached from reality.
![Volkswagen Taigo R-Line 1.0 TSI](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11056/1156615/NX1W4KVmV1671091250553/VOLKSWAGEN-TAIGO-RLINE-10-TSI.jpg)
Volkswagen Taigo R-Line 1.0 TSI
The compact proportions make this a delightful daily commuter.
![Mazda CX-5 2.2 L De Akera AWD](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11056/1156615/ZZlCrGgVm1671091179379/MAZDA-CX5-22-L-DE-AKERA-AWD.jpg)
Mazda CX-5 2.2 L De Akera AWD
Floor the pedal and overtaking is achieved easily and safely.
![Making the most out of your grinder](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11056/1156615/16QbCeB7D1671090393484/MAKING-THE-MOST-OUT-OF-YOUR-GRINDER.jpg)
Making the most out of your grinder
THE HUMBLE BENCH GRINDER IS A STAPLE of the handyworker's home shop, largely due to its versatility. But, while you can employ one to remove metal from just about anything, the traditional kind may not provide the precision you need for every grinding operation. Here, we shed light on the best ways to use the different types of grinders, gleaned from our testing.
![Unlock your devices' full potential with a USB-C hub](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11056/1156615/6jNAq3MYW1671090046440/UNLOCK-YOUR-DEVICES-FULL-POTENTIAL-WITH-A-USBC-HUB.jpg)
Unlock your devices' full potential with a USB-C hub
AS NEW TECH SHRINKS EACH YEAR, essential ports such as USB-A, HDMI, and ethernet are being replaced by the slimmer USB-C.
![WE BUILT THE WORLD'S FIRST V-8 TESLA](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11056/1156615/7ZyQmibQK1671088402866/WE-BUILT-THE-WORLDS-FIRST-V8-TESLA.jpg)
WE BUILT THE WORLD'S FIRST V-8 TESLA
THE RICH REBUILDS TEAM HAD A DEAD MODEL S. THEY FIXED IT WITH A CAMARO ENGINE.
![I bought a GHOST TOWN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11056/1156615/9j3IalVZr1671087785370/I-BOUGHT-A-GHOST-TOWN.jpg)
I bought a GHOST TOWN
This abandoned California mining village once had 400 buildings. Now I'm restoring the 20 that remain.
![F1 taught me that speed starts with comfort](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11056/1156615/ne1W9hYId1671085418364/F1-TAUGHT-ME-THAT-SPEED-STARTS-WITH-COMFORT.jpg)
F1 taught me that speed starts with comfort
AS A FAN OF MOTORSPORT, I'M ALWAYS fascinated with the finer details that go into Formula One racing. Piloting the fastest racing cars on the planet subjects drivers to savage forces - up to 6 G's under braking which has led to an almost endless pursuit of comfort.