Current Events- Noble Physics Prize Winner

Karl Ritter and Louise Nordstrom 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_nobel_physics 

10/5/10

Professor Andre Geim and Dr. Konstantin Noviselov, both born in Russia, have won the Noble Physics Prize by creating the strongest and thinnest material known to us. It could be revolutionary. This transparent material they made can be used to build better electronic devices including computers, transparent touch screens, lighter planes, cars and even satellites. You must be wondering how did they manage. They used simple Scotch tape to isolate graphene- a form on carbon, one atom thick but still, 100 times stronger than steel. The result was a thin, almost weight less, strong, transparent product and it might impact the world as much as plastic. For this amazing invention, the two won the Noble Physics Prize in Stockholm along with 1,5 million dollars.

This article connects to chemistry and the elements, as it taught me what graphene is and what it is used for. It also connects to the green plastic video. This material could replace objects now made by plastic. And it would be more eco-friendly than all the others, facing the fact that all it needs is Scotch tape and carbon. The world is full of carbon. It would affect our society a lot. It would improve a lot of our "needs" such as cars, airplanes, computers and satellites. It would make them better and more secure and with better performance. Sadly, however the process of obtaining graphene might be, easy or hard, and regardless how useful it is, it will cost a lot of money- one of people's limitations.

This current event made sense and it was easy to understand. The information is surely valid and contains facts and a lot of proof. Before I read the entire article I was wondering how is it possible for something so amazing to be created, meaning what did they do to obtain it? Also, how far could the benefits go?

I chose this article because I was really interested in who won a Noble Prize and why. But as I continued reading, the article got really fascinating. I found it by simply checking the news. I learned, basically, what this incredible material is, how it's made and how can it be used. I agree with the fact that this could be an amazing discovery and it clearly deserved it's prize. I'm very surprised it can be trapped by using Scotch tape. Next time I look forward to do my current events on something very similar, related to this topic.