Robert Ritchie Berkeley News Today

Growing zinc crystals in gallium, how an insanely hot ‘hell planet’ got so scorched, Earth's toughest material, & new Australian Biodiversity Council.

Scientists have measured the highest toughness ever recorded, of any material, while investigating a metallic alloy made of chromium, cobalt, and nickel (CrCoNi). Not only is the metal extremely ductile — which, in materials science, means highly malleable — and impressively strong, its strength and ductility improve as it gets colder. This runs counter to most other materials in existence.