New wonder material designed by AI is as light as foam but as strong as steel

Scientists have used artificial intelligence (AI) to design never-before-seen nanomaterials with the strength of carbon steel and the lightness of styrofoam.

The new nanomaterials, made using machine learning and a 3D printer, more than doubled the strength of existing designs. The scientists behind the new study said they could be used in stronger, lighter and more fuel-efficient components for airplanes and cars. They published their findings Jan. 23 in the journal Advanced Materials.