The toughest material on Earth

Plus: Toyota is getting ready to test its hydrogen combustion engine. Dec 10, 2022 [Blueprint]( We’ve all heard that diamonds are often identified as the hardest known material and the most scratch resistant, but what about the [toughest material]( According to a new study, researchers have measured the highest toughness ever recorded for any material. The material is thought to be highly malleable, making it very flexible. The research team came across the measurements while investigating a metallic alloy made of chromium, cobalt, and nickel, called CrCoNi. Its strength and ductility improve as it gets colder. CrCoNi is a subset of a class of metals called high entropy alloys, or HEAs, making it an equal mix of each constituent element. This combination is what gives CrCoNi its strength and toughness. Before reading about this tough material, take a look at [this video]( to see how both solar panels and wind turbines are being used to harness energy concurrently, an amazing feat that could create more eco-friendly buildings. Good morning. I’m Brittney, an Editor at IE. Welcome to today’s issue of The Blueprint. Let’s get started. Last Saturday, Blueprint subscribers hear from a wreck diver who found part of the Space Shuttle Challenger. This week, premium subscribers hear about [Europe's biggest battery energy storage system]( and why it’s 'essential to making net zero a reality'. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+ today]( to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [This novel energy system can harness solar and wind energy simultaneously.]( [It features cutting-edge solar panels and wind turbines.]( It features cutting-edge solar panels and wind turbines. [Must Read]MUST READ [The toughest material on Earth has just been found and the structure is just grains.]( [The metallic alloy, made of chromium, cobalt, and nickel, is called CrCoNi.]( [The metallic alloy, made of chromium, cobalt, and nickel, is called CrCoNi.]( Robert Ritchie/Berkeley Lab Researchers have just measured[the highest toughness ever recorded, of any material]( , while investigating a metallic alloy made of chromium, cobalt, and nickel, called CrCoNi. The material was found to be highly malleable with impressive resistance to permanent deformation. The research team, from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, used neutron diffraction, electron backscatter diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy to examine the lattice structures of CrCoNi samples that had been fractured at room temperature and 20 K. → The alloy is a subset of a class of metals called high entropy alloys (HEAs). HEAs are made of an equal mix of each constituent element. "When you design structural materials, you want them to be strong but also ductile and resistant to fracture," project co-lead Easo George, the Governor’s Chair for Advanced Alloy Theory and Development at ORNL and the University of Tennessee, said. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [TRANSPORTATION]TRANSPORTATION [Toyota is getting ready to test its hydrogen combustion engine on the streets]( Toyota's strategy for achieving its carbon neutrality is to develop and provide a variety of technologies to reach net zero emissions by 2035. The company believes it is too early to concentrate on a single zero-emission solution; therefore, it is [developing battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and hydrogen combustion technology](. The company aims to enable customers on their journeys to zero emissions in a world with significantly different customer needs and market situations, giving them a chance to reduce their carbon footprints. This is thanks to Toyota's multi-technology strategy, including battery electric, fuel cell electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and hybrid electric vehicles. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [HEALTH]HEALTH [Woman suffers from vomiting 30 times a day likely due to an autoimmune disease.]( A 27-year-old woman had vomiting episodes more than 30 times a day. The doctors first examined her in 2016 when the disease's symptoms began. They identified the patient as having "[cyclic vomiting syndrome]( (CVS), a condition marked by abrupt vomiting outbreaks separated by protracted periods without symptoms. The exact reason for this syndrome is not certain yet. A blood test for the patient showed "very high" levels of GAD autoantibodies, which are immune molecules that mistakenly attack the body's own tissues and are present in people with type 1 diabetes. Vomiting symptoms were reduced in the eight-month follow-up after one course of rituximab treatment from the doctor. The medical team believes that the patient's blood autoantibodies were responsible for her CVS, and when those antibodies vanished, the patient's episodes of vomiting stopped as well. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [SCIENCE]SCIENCE [Scientists invent biobatteries that can be powered inside the human body]( Researchers at Binghamton University have [invented a capsule-sized biobattery]( they believe may be a solution for the hard-to-reach small intestine. Professor Seokheun “Sean” Choi, a faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science, led the team of researchers. “There are some regions in the small intestine that are not reachable, and that is why ingestible cameras have been developed to solve this issue,” Choi said. Choi and his students are looking to improve the biobatteries. They want to increase the speed at which the fuel cell germinates completely. It currently takes about an hour. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [MAIL & MUSINGS]MAIL & MUSINGS The strength and ductility of the material CrCoNi. Do you think the alloy CrCoNi will be incorporated and implemented into future projects? [Yes, it seems really useful and strong]( [No, it’s too difficult to create]( [Maybe, especially for cold temperature projects]( [I’m not sure]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday, we shared that the ARRW, the United States' first hypersonic missile, is almost ready for operational status and asked if you think this development has commercial applications. A majority of you (49 percent ) felt it was military specific while 25 percent were unsure what it could be used for. 49% No, this is military specific 25% Possibly, but I am unsure what 24% Yes, plenty 2% I am unsure either way [QUOTE OF THE DAY]QUOTE OF THE DAY "We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology." Carl Sagan [THINGS WE LOVE]THINGS WE LOVE [image](MANKIW Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner - [MANKIW Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner](MANKIW Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner - [image](Chiline Bone Conduction Headphones - [Chiline Bone Conduction Headphones](Chiline Bone Conduction Headphones - [image]( [Fraser Hill Farm's Christmas Tree]( [image]( [Xerox DocuMate Flatbed Scanner]( [AND ANOTHER THING]AND ANOTHER THING - NASA loses contact with [$252 million ICON satellite]( fears total system failure. - [International research team]( creates previously unknown nitrogen compounds. (Phys.org) - AlphaCode can solve complex problems and [create code using AI](. - Race to [control ‘tripledemic’]( cases of RSV in children sweep US and Europe. (The Guardian) - This [brain surgery]( shows potential to treat epilepsy, PTSD and even fear. [premium] - Stimulating the vagus nerve may r[educe symptoms of multiple sclerosis](. (New Scientist) - Molecular-level DNA repair could pave the way for more [effective cancer drugs](. Prepared by Brittney Grimes Enjoy Reading? Forward this email to a friend. Was this email forwarded to you? [Join Free!]( [About Us]( [Advertise]( [Contact Us]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( [Instagram]( You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage you e-mail preferences or unsubscribe [here](. © Copyright 2022 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 205 Hudson St New York, NY, 10013, USA [Interesting Engineering]