Nanosprings in their Step

From The Engineer:

team of Clemson University researchers led by Apparao Rao, a professor of physics, has invented a way to make beds of tiny, shock-absorbing carbon springs that could be used to protect delicate objects from damaging impacts. With collaborators at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD), the team has shown that layers of these tiny coiled carbon nanotubes can act as extremely resilient shock absorbers. Similar coiled carbon nanotubes have been made before, yet Clemson researchers say this method is unique since beds of coiled carbon nanotubes can be grown in a single step using a proprietary hydrocarbon-catalyst mixture. The group also envisions coiled nanotubes in soldiers' body armour, car bumpers and bushings and even as cushioning elements in shoe soles.

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