Malleable and bendable ceramicmaterials have been developed inSaarbrucken, Germany. Deutchland(No I 9/10). Scientists at theSaarbrucken's Institute for NewIndustrial Material have recentlydeveloped what they refer to as'nano powder'. It consists of almostunimaginably small ceramic particles, billions of which would fit onthe head of a pin. The ceramic particles are surrounded by an extremelythin lubricating fIlm which ensuresthat the individual particles do notstick to one another and are able tomove freely. This produces rathersurprising results. The new industrial material can be forged, rolledand bent without breaking. In thefuture, ceramic materials of thiskind could, for example, increasethe performance of car engines,power station turbines and aircraft,a ad eventually even be used to find asubstitute for heavy and environmentally harmful lead batteries.