“Ever wondered why paper beats rock in a game of roshambo?  It turns out that cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) derived from wood pulp extract can be used to create one of the strongest materials known to man.  Out-toughing even Kevlar and carbon fiber, the material is lightweight, cheap, and abundant.  Found in forest by-products such as sawdust and wood chips, CNC could be used to create materials with applications in military defense, engineering, medicine, and consumer products.”

[via inhabitat]