The nanothreads have only been tested in simulations so far. So long as their behavior translates well to the real world, though, they could have all kinds of uses. Gizmodo suggests that they should be useful for supporting a space elevator, which would need incredible strength to reach tens of thousands of miles above the Earth. However, they could also be relevant anywhere that a supremely sturdy yet thin material is practical -- many places, in other words. If there's any substance to the claims, don't be alarmed if these diamond strands (and the surrounding hype) show up everywhere.

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