Gizmodo: Steel

Carbon Nanotube Manufacturing Breakthrough Could Mean Bye-Bye Steel

Kit Eaton — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:07:56 EDT

Carbon nanotubes have been popping on Giz for a while, touted as one of the next wonder-materials—but a new development in their manufacture means they may not remain "future technology" for long. In fact the work of a team at CSIRO and the University of Texas at Dallas means that commercial-scale production of sheets of carbon nanotube "textile" is possible at up to seven meters per minute.

And these are no ordinary textiles either: they're transparent and way stronger than a sheet of steel. The team's technique involves chemically-growing "forests" of nanotubes that self-assemble, and is reported in Science currently. If it proves true we may see nanotube materials replacing metals like steel pretty soon—though I'm not sure how many people would balk at flying in a plane with wings you can partly see through. [Physorg]

Futuristic Origami Desk Cut and Folded from a Single Sheet of Steel

Sean Fallon — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:20:00 EDT

No doubt about it, this is one bad-ass-looking desk. But the 3Fold from Formtank is more than just a striking visual design—it is also impressive because it was cut and folded from a single sheet of steel using CAD/CAM technology. Formtank bills it as an excellent CEO desk, which is why it takes CEO money to buy one. Constructing your own version starts at around $7,000. [Formtank via Core77 via Boing Boing]

9/11 Twin Tower Collapse Provides Data For Building Better Fusion Reactors

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EDT

Don't be afraid. You can read that headline again. I'll wait for you... Aaaand, okay: With cold fusion nowhere in sight, hot fusion looks to be the cleanest way to whip up some atomic energy. However, the steel needed to line the reactor may not be able to take the heat. UK scientists said that temperatures inside reactors are nearly identical to those reached on the floors of the World Trade Center that were struck by planes on September 11, 2001—and that the tragedy itself yielded helpful data. Here, on the eve of the terrorist attack's 7th anniversary, is the deal:

By studying the WTC's structural weakening and collapse, scientists can identify the needs of new steel technology in the next atomic age. Steel may truly melt at 1,150ºC, but as low as 500ºC, the iron molecules that are held strong by magnetism at cooler temperatures start to slip, Sergei "Duder" "His Dudeness" "El Dudarino" Dudarev, principal scientist at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), told BBC News. Imperfections in the metal enhance the oozing even more. The Twin Towers started to weaken when temperatures crossed the 500ºC threshold, and gave way without ever actually melting.

Today, Dudarev and others are at work on the world's first "large-scale" fusion reactor, called ITER. What the scientists need, though, is a steel that can ease past these temperatures without buckling. "We need to look at the magnetic properties of steel, [and] vary their chemical composition in a systematic way in order to get rid of this behaviour," the Dude told BBC. (No word if graphene is something that could be put to use.)

The weirdest factoid of the whole story is this: Steel's peak elasticity is reached at... 911ºC. Now that gives me the chills. [BBC News]

PS3 to Get Steel Color Makeover With Metal Gear Solid 4 Launch

Kit Eaton — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 05:27:12 EDT

Sony and Konami will be celebrating the June launch of Metal Gear Solid 4 "Guns of the Patriots" with a special steel colored edition of the PlayStation 3. Dare we say "gunmetal grey" color? Yes, I think we dare. It'll be a limited edition, but both the 40GB PS3 and a single matching DualShock controller will be available in a premium package for $520. [Kotaku and AV Watch]

Samurai Sword Maker Holds The Key To Nuclear Reactors

Mark Wilson — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:59:12 EDT

In testament to old world craftsmanship, Japan Steel Works is both a samurai sword maker and the only company in the world that's good enough with steel to produce the central part of a nuclear reactor's containment vessel in one piece, an engineering necessity in order to reduce the risk of radioactive leaks. The company spends so much time and resources on each containment vessel that they can only produce four per year, flaunting a price tag starting with a $100 million down payment. [bloomberg via slashdot] [image]

Porsche's Futuristic Champagne Tower for Veuve Cliquot Is a Fridge by Any Other Name

AddyDugdale — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 04:30:05 EST

If it weren't for my obnobvious headline, you'd all be wondering what the hell this is. Just 15 of these Champagne tower chillers, with room for a dozen magnums in individual, lit drawers, have been designed for Veuve Cliquot by Porsche Design. Want to see what it looks like open?

Almost six-and-a-half feet in height, expect to see these stainless steel monstrosities in the kitchens of F1 drivers in time for their Christmas parties. [Sybarites]

Epoq Classes Up MP4 Watches With Stainless Steel

Jason Chen — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:50:08 EDT

Most MP4 watches look fantastic if you're 12 years old and really love plastic and rubber watches, but Epoq's latest MP4 watch brings a slight bit of class to the video watch business. Made of stainless steel, this watch has a 1.5-inch LCD screen, 2GB memory, MP4 video and MP3/WMA/WAV audio. $199 isn't cheap, but how else are you going to get video on a watch? [First To You via Sci Fi]

MareNostrum, the World's Most Gorgeous Super-Computer

msparkes — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 04:47:10 EDT

This is the 9th biggest supercomputer in the world, MareNostrum. It also happens to be the most gorgeous supercomputer in the world, installed in a former chapel with acres of glass and steel. It belongs to the Barcelona Supercomputing Center and is polished daily by hundreds of groveling grad students. Probably.

It has 10,240 CPUs, 20TB of RAM, 280TB of disk storage and runs on SUSE Linux. It can compute at 62.63 teraflops, with a peak performance of 94.21 teraflops, making it the most powerful computer in Europe. [Navel of Narcissus]

Stewart/Stand Wallet Protects More Than Just Your Money

AddyDugdale — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 09:31:26 EDT

Woven industrial-grade stainless steel is the material used for this Stewart/Stand-designed wallet, meaning your moolah and credit cards get grade-A protection from rain, sweat—and even identity thieves looking to get their hands on your RFID information.

Made from the same finely woven steel used in petroleum processing and aerospace applications, the wallet is, apparently, as smooth as silk. The fact that it doesn't stretch, rip or stain means that it is virtually indestructible. But it's the RFID protection that is the most interesting facet of this silver-colored billfold.

The steel in the wallet creates a Faraday cage, a shield that blocks out external electrical fields, which means no access for any baddies who are trying to steal your identity—unless they're an old-fashioned fingersmith, in which case you're screwed.

The steel wallet is available in several designs and costs between $80 and $125.

[Stewart/Stand via Wired]

First Video of Grand Canyon's Glass Skywalk

Louis Ramirez — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 11:48:55 EDT

It doesn't officially open till the 28th of March, but a few lucky visitors got an early glimpse of the Grand Canyon's Glass Skywalk. The see-through sidewalk juts out 70 feet over the cliff's edge, and the only things standing between you and the 4,000-foot chasm below are a lot of steel and 4-inch thick tempered glass. The glass plank can hold up to 800 people (each weighing 175 lbs). I'm pretty chicken when it comes to heights, but this is something I'd totally do, especially after seeing the video (post-jump). Only $25 for admission.

– Louis Ramirez
First Visitor Step onto Canyon Sidewalk [Spluch via TecheBlog]

Bellperre Mobile Phones Lack the Plastic

Travis Hudson — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:15:29 EDT

Bellperre, some rich snoody-poopy company, has a new line of cellphones that are being marketed as 0-percent plastic. I know you are dying to find out what they will be made out of and if you haven't seen the picture it is obvious that these phones will be entirely constructed out of materials such as steel, gold, hardwood, sapphire and others. The phone will be making their official debut at CeBIT later this week. Jump to see a close up picture of the keypad.

Normally, I would be the first person to leap onto my soapbox and let the expletives fly about this product because it will likely be expensive as hell, not readily available and plastic isn't efficient, but I won't. I won't because honestly, if I could afford it, I would so own one of these sexy phones. I would definitely rock out a steel or hardwood phone. –Travis Hudson

Bellperre exclusive mobiles phones to be made of 0% plastic [Gizmag]

First Real Photos of the Grand Canyon's Magnificent Glass Skywalk

Brian Lam — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 17:46:55 EST

The concept art for the Grand Canyon Skywalk was stunning. But the real glass pathway, jutting 70-feet out over the cliff edge, 3/4 of a mile over the river bed, promises to be far more so. What does it take to bring a project of this magnitude to life? A million pounds of steel, and 90 tons of tempered glass, apparently. Here are some of the first shots of the walkway's construction, courtesy of the LA Times' feature on the structure.

I'm not sure I have the guts to walk out over it. My faith in engineering and materials science simply doesn't extend that far. You?–Brian Lam

Grand Canyon Skywalk [Via Sci Fi Blog]

Ninja Star NYC Subway Map

Brian Lam — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 14:17:25 EDT

This four-pointed stainless steel ninja star is useful for added sting to punches when held in your fist. But can also be thrown at adversaries inflicting 1-3 HP of damage, and causing the status effect of "demoralizing defeat at hands of American ninja" ( -2 penalty to move or attack). The ninja can also use the map to escape from labrinth underground tunnels found in the large human and troll settlement of New York City. Available with etchings of London Tubes, and will fit in your wallet.

Useful for not looking like a tourist. Ninjas must stay to the shadows. –Brian Lam

Credit Card Underground Maps [Firebox]