FlexAll

In an effort to reduce accident deaths, Nascar has turned to scientists at Battelle, an R&Dcompany in Columbus, Ohio. Their solution: a new hyper-elastic materialcalled FlexAll that deforms to absorb an incoming force and thenbounces back to its original shape within minutes. After molding theFlexAll into honeycomb-like columns, the researchers repeatedly slammedracecars into it at speeds up to 100 mph. The plastic behavedidentically crash after crash, absorbing 92 percent of an impact'senergy each time. In road tests, the cushion reduced maximum G load onthe driver by an impressive 60 percent.

Source: popsci.comAdded: 21 May 2007