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Materials Scientist
Develops new materials with specific properties — graphene, smart fabrics, self-healing concrete.
Did you know?
Aerogel, first made by Samuel Kistler in 1931, can be more than 99% air, and NASA used it to catch comet dust on its Stardust mission.
How subjects help
- Chemistry: Arrange atoms and molecules to create new materials, like plastics that break down naturally.
- Physics: Test how a material carries heat and electricity or bends under pressure.
- Mathematics: Analyse test results to predict how long a material will last before it wears out.
- Engineering: Turn a new lab material into something factories can make, like lighter car parts.
A famous name
Stephanie Kwolek: Chemist who invented Kevlar in 1965, a super-strong material used in bulletproof vests.
Try it yourself: Test surfaces on a sliding ramp
- Rest one end of the book or tray on a low pile of books to make a gentle ramp.
- Put the bottle cap at the top and let go. Does it slide?
- Tape a different surface over the ramp (tea towel, foil, paper) and try again from the same spot.
- Rank the surfaces from most slippery to most grippy. Add or remove books to find the lowest slope where the cap starts to slide on each surface.
Tribologists and materials scientists measure friction between surfaces to design grippier tyres and shoes, and slipperier parts inside engines and machines.
Adapted from TeachEngineering (University of Colorado Boulder): Engineering Friction and Grip.
Also try: Make a broom-handle pulley.
Known for it in
USA, Japan, Germany, South Korea, UK