Graphene, the material in pencil ‘lead’ has come to be seen as the new wonder carbon, fist it was Buckyballs (Bukminsterfullerene) then nanotubes, now graphene. Each a version of molecular carbon, one in the form of various size soccer ball like structures ( hexagonal flats giving it the form and name since Buckminster Fuller was the prophet of geodesic structures like domes, the last generation of fabric over structure aircraft, etc.) Nanotubes are fine latticework tubes (hexagonal lattice) and graphene is at its most basic a single atom thick sheet lattice (hexagonal again!) graphene has some extraordinary properties of interest to electrical, electronic, electo-optic, structural and other engineering technologies, it could be the basis of ‘the next industrial revolution.’

One of the latest latest graphene breakthroughs is its formation into open cell foams, some that are actually lighter than air! On the order of helium making it potentially possible to form foam balloons that fly. This piece describes the potential to use this ultra light material as a bio scaffold for the creation of organs etc,