Plasma-arc torches are sci-fi made real. And they slice through steel so easily, anyone can use them.

Photographs by Jeff Sciortino (2) The plasma cutting this spiral is eight times hotter than the Sun, but the heat is so concentrated the string won't burn. Photographs by Jeff Sciortino (2)

Dept.: Gray Matter

Investigator: Theodore Gray

Shop Tech: Plasma-arc torches

Project: Metal spiral

Time: 45 minutes

Element: Hafnium -- Appearance: Exotic and ductile heavy metal with
smooth silvery surface and high corrosion resistance Most common uses: Nuclear control rods, plasma-arc
torches, incandescent lamps and alloys Melting temp: 2,229

Want to learn more about breakthroughs in electronics, medicine, nanotech, and more?
Subscribe to Popular Science today, for less than $1 per issue!

0 Comments



June 2013: American Energy Independence

Five amazing, clean technologies that will set us free, in this month's energy-focused issue. Also: how to build a better bomb detector, the robotic toys that are raising your children, a human catapult, the world's smallest arcade, and much more.


Online Content Director: Suzanne LaBarre | Email
Senior Editor: Paul Adams | Email
Associate Editor: Dan Nosowitz | Email
Assistant Editor: Colin Lecher | Email
Assistant Editor: Rose Pastore | Email

Contributing Writers:
Rebecca Boyle | Email
Kelsey D. Atherton | Email
Francie Diep | Email
Shaunacy Ferro | Email

circ-top-header.gif
circ-cover.gif
bmxmag-ps