THE CARBON UNIVERSE

GRAPHENE

THE SUPERHERO It consists of only one layer of carbon atoms— making it both the thinnest and the strongest structure on Earth.

GRAPHITE

THE HEAT RESISTER In purely chemical terms, graphite is multilayered graphene. The configuration of stacked graphene can only be deformed at 4,530°F.

DIAMOND

THE UNBREAKABLE Diamond also consists of pure carbon, but the atoms are arranged in a crystal lattice structure. No natural mineral on Earth is harder.

BUCKYBALL

THE PRACTICAL This configuration could be very important in medicine because its binding behavior helps counteract harmful free radicals.

NANOTUBES

THE NERD Chemically speaking, nanotubes are simply rolled-up graphene. These stable tubes were used in the construction of F-35 fighter jets.

LONSDALEITE

THE OUTSIDER This is also known as hexagonal diamond. Its properties are similar to those of diamond, but the structure of its carbon atoms is different.