http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/02/01/...tal-foam-ever/
Oh the potential uses.....
Spoiler for Leading paragraph on Professor Rabier's work:
Spongy metal sounds like a bit of an oxymoron, but it’s actually a real
material that is capable of absorbing large impacts without damage. Metal foams have been around for some time, but new research by Dr. Afsaneh Rabiei of North Carolina State University, has revealed the strongest metal foam ever. It can compress up to 80% of its original size under loading and still retain its original shape. The applications for this type of material are too numerous to fathom, but one of the most anticipated uses for the spongy metal is in automobiles to lessen the impact of crashes and protect the driver and passengers.
Actually, this is the first I've heard of
www.inhabitat.com. It is an amusing site to browse.