A new video released by Boeing this week claims that the company has discovered a new metal that is “99.99% made from air.” The new metal is intended for future use in airplanes, cars, and other objects.
The metal is referred to as a microlattice, and consists of rows of micro-tubes in a crisscross pattern that leaves an air gap between each intersection.
Microlattice, as the company states, is one of the lightest materials known to man at this time and according to Boeing, it is almost ready to be released on the market.
The metal can be compressed to high levels without breaking, and absorb more energy than regular metals, making it extremely versatile for a wide range of applications.
For example, the video below states that if we drop an egg from a building it would need about three layers of bubble wrap to keep it from breaking, but with microlattice metal, it would only need a single layer that is capable of absorbing the force of the fall.
Boeing did not say whether it plans to use the new metal anytime soon, but the video suggests it could be useful in the future for use in airplane structures to remove weight and increase fuel efficiency.
Watch the presentation video
