Julia Greer wants to change the way we think about everyday materials.
Think un-tearable paper, ultrathin thermal jackets and lightweight wind turbines.
The 40-year-old has been working on nano-architected materials at CalTech for the past few years.
Watch: Nanotechnology could revolutionize how things are built
"The materials that we are making ... have an extra level of organization at the micron/sub-micron scale compared to the conventional materials," she said. "This allows us to have full control over its properties while maintaining a very low density."
While there are still obstacles her team is working to overcome, the research will have an impact on a number of products, changing everything from military gear to biomedical devices.
