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Scientists have developed a transparent new plastic as strong as steel and as thin as a sheet of paper, according to a study published in Science magazine.
Made out of clay and a non-toxic glue similar to that used in school classrooms, the composite plastic is biodegradable and requires very little energy to produce, lead researcher Nicholas Kotov said.
"It's as green as you can imagine," he said, adding that the material is also quite cheap to produce. The plastic could be used to reduce the energy required to separate gasses in chemical factories, improve microtechnology and even one day produce lighter, stronger armour.