Scientists at the Illinois-based Argonne National Laboratory and the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute/SPring-8 have developed a method for turning liquid cement into a liquid metal semiconductor.

“This new material has lots of applications, including as thin-film resistors used in liquid-crystal displays, basically the flat panel computer monitor that you are probably reading this from at the moment,” said Chris Benmore, a physicist from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory who worked with a team of scientists from Japan, Finland and Germany to take the “magic” out of the cement-to-metal transformation. Benmore and Shinji Kohara from Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute/SPring-8 led the research effort.

True to form the new conmetal… err… concretal… mecrete… whatever is stronger than what came before. So it’s going to have better resistance to corrosion than traditional metal, less brittleness than traditional glass, conductivity, low energy loss in magnetic fields, and fluidity for ease of processing and molding. Previously, only metals have been able to transition to a metallic-glass form. Cement does this by a process called electron trapping, a phenomena only previously seen in ammonia solutions. Understanding how cement joined this exclusive club opens the possibility of turning other solid normally insulating materials into room-temperature semiconductors.

The process entails levitating the concrete then blasting it with a carbon dioxide laser beam. The cement melts and the levitator keeps the hot mess away from any surfaces so it doesn’t form crystals. The liquid cools into a glassy state that can trap electrons in the way needed for electronic conduction.

So it’s better than we thought. It’s concrete, it’s glass, its metal, it’s Conglasscrete! Ok, that’s our name for it. All I really want to know is if they use this on my iphone will it stop the damn thing from breaking when it hits the floor?

More on the subject here.

About Zombeing Fallout

WHEN: DOORS OPEN at 8:00pm on July 27, 2013.

WHERE: Grasshopper Indoor Soccer – 4170 Madison Street, Hillside, IL

The Zombeings have taken the Chicago area – but you can survive it in this specially outfitted fallout shelter. You just have to spend the night.  It’s the safest place during times like these.  Honestly, what could go wrong?

Zombeing Fallout is an overnight, immersive experience that takes place inside a certified Zombeing tested fallout shelter. In the past some guests were lured out of their tents and they met up with a few Zombeings but we fixed the hole in the wall.  It’s entirely safe now. So you can attend support rallies, use the rest rooms, stand in the food ration line and basically just hang out until the safety of sunrise. Simple… right?

All you have to do is show up at 8:00 pm on the designated day with a sleeping bag and some toothpaste. Broadcasts from the outside world will keep everyone a breast of the apocalypse and the toll that it will take on the city.  But be safe in the knowledge that there is no way that zombeings will break into this secure facility.  It’s just not going to happen. Even if there are 100 of them trying to beat down the doors.

Again, all we have to do is last a measly 8 hrs till the horde passes over.  No worries

Make sure to order your tickets early though… spaces are limited (but if you’re not inside, we can’t guarantee your safety).

WHEN: DOORS OPEN at 8:00pm on July 27, 2013.

WHERE: Grasshopper Indoor Soccer – 4170 Madison Street, Hillside, IL

For more info go here or shoot us an email – info@phathom.com.