SuperconductingMaterialsThestoneage,TheIronAge.Entireepochshavebeennamedformaterials.Sowhattocallthedecadesahead?Thechoicewillbetough.Welcometotheageofsuperstuff(超级材料).Materialscience--oncetheleasts

　　SuperconductingMaterials

　　Thestoneage,TheIronAge.Entireepochshavebeennamedformaterials.Sowhattocallthedecadesahead?Thechoicewillbetough.Welcometotheageofsuperstuff(超级材料).Materialscience--oncetheleastsexytechnology–isburstingwithnew,practicaldiscoveriesledbysuperconductingceramicsthatmayrevolutionizeelectronics.Butsuperconductorsarejustpartofthepicture:fromhouseandcarstocookpotsandartificialteeth,theworldwillsomedaybemadeofdifferentstuff.Exoticplastics,glassandceramicswillshapethefuturejustassurelyashavegeneticengineeringandcomputerscience.

　　Thekeytothenewmaterialsisresearchers’increasingabilitytomanipulatesubstancesatthemolecularlevel.Ceramics,forexample,havelongbeenlimitedbytheirbrittleness.Butbyminimizingthemicroscopicimperfectionsthatcauseit,scientistsaremakingfarstrongerceramicsthatstillretainsuchqualitiesashardnessandheatresistance.FordMotorCo.nowusesceramictoolstocutsteel.AfirmcalledKyocerahascreatedalineofceramicscissorsandknivesthatstaysharpforyearsandneverrustorcorrode.

　　Asimilartransformationhasovertakenplastics.High-strengthpolymersnowformbridges,ice-skatingrinksandhelicopterrotors.Andonenewplasticthatgenerateselectricitywhenvibratedorpushedisusedinelectricguitars,touchsensorsforrobothandsandkaratejacketsthatautomaticallyrecordeachpunchandchop.Evenplasticlitter,whichoncethreatenedtopermanentlyblotthelandscape,hasprovedamenabletomoleculartinkering.Severalmanufacturersnowmakebiodegradableforms;someplasticsix-packringsforexample,graduallydecomposewhenexposedtosunlight.Researchersaredevelopingwaystomakeplasticsasrecyclableasmetalorglass.Besides,composites–plasticreinforcedwithfibersofgraphiteorothercompounds–madetheround-the-worldflightofthevoyagerpossibleandhaveevenbeenprovedincombat:ahelmetsavedaninfantryman’slifebydeflectingtwobulletsintheGrenadainvasion.

　　Someadvancedmaterialsareoldstandardwithanewtwist.Thenewestfiberoptic(光学纤维的)cablethatcarrytelephonecallscross-countryaremadeofglasssotransparentthatapieceof100milesth