Apple carved its way as a formidable innovator in everything from UI design to the app economy. Now, they're taking the lead on materials innovation. The company recently acquired an exclusive license to Liquidmetal, a super-strong yet flexible amorphous alloy developed for NASA that offers a better, more durable and environmentally responsible alternative to plastic.

Liquidmetal can be cast in the same factory equipment used to process plastic, requiring no additional manufacturing investment. While it's still unclear what Apple's intended application for the material may be, industry insiders speculate it could sprout anything from ultra-lightweight device casings to a new antenna to amend the notorious iPhone 4 reception problem to permanent holographic logos, images and barcodes etched into the metal.

via Cult of Mac

Maria Popova is the editor of Brain Pickings, a curated inventory of miscellaneous interestingness. She writes for Wired UK, GOOD Magazine and Huffington Post, and spends a shameful amount of time on Twitter.