Artist’s rendering of a futuristic aircraft with transformable wings
Air Force Research Laboratory/NASA
The titanium-nickel alloy is as strong as steel but stretches like a rubbery polymer, and with clever engineering, it could eventually lead to shape-shifting aircraft and other technologies.
Imagine an airplane with long wings that could shorten and retract in the air as it gained speed, making the aircraft more aerodynamic. To make this futuristic technology a reality, engineers need materials that are stretchy enough to change shape, yet strong enough to withstand the environments they will encounter during flight. Ren Xiaobin At the National Institute of Science…
Source: www.newscientist.com
