Chainmail may be making a comeback as part of a next-gen material that could be used for human exoskeletons. The material, made by scientists from Singapore and the US, is composed of interlocking octahedron-shaped particles (first made of nylon, and then aluminium) that’s pliable but also capable of becoming rigid and load-bearing. How does that happen? When the material is enveloped in a plastic case and vacuum-sealed, it stiffens up, similar to a sealed bag of rice.
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Technology
The First Solar-Powered Car Comes at a Hot Price
The Lightyear O is a revolutionary electric car powered by the sun. Developed by a Dutch startup, the four-door sedan has over 50 square feet of solar panels on its roof and hood, generating up to 43 miles of energy a day. With production now underway in Finland, the car does come with a hefty price tag at $262,000, but the company hopes to introduce a more affordable version, the Lightyear 2, by 2025. Read full article here