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Le Pouvoir caché des matériaux
Super-matériaux : la science-fiction peut-elle devenir réalité ?
On peut penser à la Kryptonite dans le comics Superman, au Duracier dans le film StarWars ou encore au Cavorite dans le roman Les premiers hommes dans la Lune. Or, bien souvent, ces super-matériaux semblent complètement hors de portée et restent cantonnés au domaine de la fiction. Au point qu’aujourd’hui, les fans de science-fiction utilisent même un mot très précis pour désigner ces matériaux fictifs aux propriétés impossibles : unobtainium. Une terminologie qui n’est d’ailleurs pas sans rappeler un minéral présent dans le film Avatar. Pourtant, les matériaux de la science fiction continuent de fasciner les scientifiques, en témoigne notamment la devise du département de physique des matériaux du Georgia Institute of Technology à Atlanta aux Etats-Unis, qui dit –je cite : « Nous transformons la science-fiction d’hier en réalité d’aujourd’hui ». Alors, quels sont les super pouvoirs des matériaux de la science fiction ? Quels sont leurs fondements scientifiques ? A quelle condition pourraient-ils devenir une source d’inspiration pour les sciences des matériaux ? Et qui sait, est-ce qu’un jour certains matériaux de science-fiction finiront par devenir les matériaux de demain ?
Intervenant: Roland Lehoucq, Astrophysicien au Commissariat à l'énergie atomique, enseignant, auteur et vulgarisateur. Il a connu des succès auprès du grand public avec ses livres "D'où viennent les pouvoirs de Superman ?"
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