Bonecraft

Scientists from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany have created a new lightweight material that is inspired from the structure of a human bone. The material has been created using a high-tech 3D printer.

Scientists were inspired at how wood and bones being porous are still very strong due to the complex arrangement of air pockets and architectural pattern to the bits of bones interweaving through those air pockets that enables the bones to bear weight. Researchers imitated this structure and pattern by making use of a high tech 3D laser lithography machine to build very tiny micro-structures out a of a ceramic-polymer composite.

The research will help in creating lighter and stronger materials. The new material exceeded the strength to weight ratio and it might be instrumental in designing spacecraft which are lighter and cheaper.