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Technology

Microwaved bamboo could be used to build super-strong skyscrapers

By Alice Klein

24 April 2020

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Bamboo can be made strong enough to build planes or cars by microwaving it

Aaron French/EyeEm/Alamy

Scientists have created an exceptionally strong, lightweight material out of microwaved bamboo that could be used to construct the next generation of skyscrapers, cars and aeroplanes.

At the moment, steel, concrete and bricks are the most commonly used construction materials, but they are non-renewable and their production contributes substantially to global greenhouse gas emissions.

Bamboo, in contrast, is a fast-growing, renewable material that is already used in houses and scaffolding in many Asian countries. However, it is…

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