Behold the strength of carbon nanotubes  Tests of submicroscopic
carbon cylinders reveal that, ounce-for-ounce, they're 117 times
stronger than steel, 30 times stronger than Kevlar used in
bulletproof vests.  A computer-rendered view inside a carbon
nanotube.  (Credit: ghutchis/Flickr)  New tests of carbon
nanotubes--those tiny cylinders expected to revolutionize
medicine, electronics, warfare, and more--reveal that, ounce-
for-ounce, they are 117 times stronger than steel and 30 times
stronger than Kevlar used in bicycle tires and bulletproof
vests.  The nanotubes, roughly 50,000 of which add up to the
width of an average strand of human hair, are already known for
their strength. But this latest research, led by Stephen Cronin,
electrical engineering assistant professor at the University of
Southern California, tested individual carbon nanotubes of
various lengths and widths by applying what is being rather
unscientifically described as "immense strain."  It turns out
that the nanotubes could be stretched tw