Graphene

[Christopher K.]

Spitzer has found possible signatures of graphene (one-atom-thick sheets of carbon) in planetary nebulae located in both of the Magellanic Clouds, satellite galaxies of the Milky Way some distances away (~180,000 light years for Large, ~210,000 light years from Small).

The Small Magellanic Cloud doesn't have much in the way of elements heavier than hydrogen and helium but does apparently contain these planetary nebulae, which are created when stars like our Sun die.

Graphene was artifically produced in 2004. It belongs to the carbons called fullerenes, named after architect Buckminster Fuller. Research scientists and engineers have taken note of graphene due to its electronic properties and its possible applications in practical life.

More information:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/spitz ... 10815.html
http://www.noao.edu/news/2011/pr1103.php

Image of a section of the Large Magellanic Cloud:
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090323.html

[Christopher K.]

We missed NanoDays this year, but next March or April HRPO personnel should ask the CCT if they can have graphene on site. Its engineering potentials are incredible.

More information:
https://engineering.cmu.edu/news-events ... karni.html
http://meche.mit.edu/news-media/graphene-roll-out
https://engineering.stanford.edu/magazi ... c-graphene