Oxford scientists have created a transparent form of aluminium by bombarding the metal with the world’s most powerful soft X-ray laser. ‘Transparent aluminium’ previously only existed in science fiction, featuring in the movie Star Trek IV, but the real material is an exotic new state of matter with implications for planetary science and nuclear fusion.

via Transparent aluminium is ‘new state of matter’.

Did you know that aluminum was once more valuable than gold and silver?  It really is a fascinating element and metal.

We’ll see lots of examples of aluminum used on architecture as ornament (like we sometimes use gold today) when we travel to Washington in a couple of weeks.

I can’t wait until you all are scientists creating new states of matter!