Creating new materials by turning failure on its head

Nature, Published online: 06 November 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-03599-5

Usually, materials either are stiff or can absorb shocks or vibrations; they rarely achieve both. A fresh approach combines these seemingly incompatible properties in materials that are at once stiff, lightweight and shock-absorbent. This technique embraces the failure of the materials.