Experts design elastic iron for surgeries, buildings

[watersandwilds]

Researchers in Japan have designed a super-elastic iron alloy which they hope can be used in sophisticated heart and brain surgeries and even buildings in earthquake zones.In a paper published on Friday in the journal Science, the researchers said the metal's super-elasticity allows it to return to its original form and gives it additional

Comments

[mercat]

Haha I'm not sure I'd want to be in a building that could deflect more. I mean, it's a nice idea, but it might be really unsettling to walk around in.

[pinefir]

I don't think it's gonna deflect more...i think what it will be trying to do is to become more in synch with the ground shaking (when there are earthquakes) so that the building would not experience that much damage....It's kinda like going with the flow or something.

[mercat]

I think that's the idea, but if you change the material you're either going to deflect more or end up using more materials. Not to mention earthquake formulas usually only take into account the number of floors, so, idk.