APS 2008: Eating dolphin
Graphene has been one of the hot topics at APS this year, consistently overflowing rooms. The atom-thick carbon sheets show lots of strange new physics, as well as the potential for exciting new technology.
But graphene guru Andre Geim isn't so keen on talking about the applications. At a packed lecture today, he prefaced a slide on what you can do with graphene disks with a parable.
On a trip to Florida, Geim said he was mesmerized by the graceful jumping of dolphins. It was all quite lovely until a little boy ruined the mood, shouting "Mom, can we eat that?"
In other words, asking about the utility of elegant basic research can be a bit of a downer. Despite his distaste, Geim proceeded to discuss how transparent, conductive graphene films might be useful in LCD and solar cell technology.
Then he got in a not-so-subtle dig. "In terms of applications, I didn't expect them to come so soon. But maybe they're not as exaggerated as other topics at this conference." There was hearty (maybe knowing?) laughter all around.