Boeing once proposed the BC-17X , a commercial version of the C-17 Globemaster III. Designed to deliver outsized cargo to remote, unpaved airfields, it was intended to earn money commercially while being available to the military as needed.
Scientists looked at nacre (mother-of-pearl), the inner layer of oyster shells, which is incredibly resistant to cracking despite being made of brittle minerals. Boeing once proposed the BC-17X , a commercial
By mimicking the hexagonal, "brick-and-mortar" structure of nacre at a microscopic level, the new material can absorb energy from cracks and slow their spread, rather than shattering. By mimicking the hexagonal
Since cement production accounts for roughly 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions , making it 17 times more durable could significantly reduce waste and the need for frequent replacements. 17x in Military & Aerospace Boeing once proposed the BC-17X