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Imagine a material two hundred times stronger than steel yet as flexible as rubber,Ìýa form of carbon so conductive it could replace silicon and transform computing.ÌýGraphene is the super-strong, super-flexible ‘miracle material’ which has set the world of science alight.

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Since a team at Manchester University first managed to create graphene in 2004 (using a lump of graphite and some sticky tape!) there's been a lot of interest in graphene and its potential applications. Its strength, flexibility and electrical conductivity could pave the way toÌý computers so thin you could fold them upÌý - or even wear them!

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In this week's Science Cafe Adam visitsÌýAberystwyth University's Institute of Mathematics and Physics to meet its Director, Prof. Andy Evans. He and his Ph.D student Simon Cooil are developing a new way ofÌýmaking graphene from diamond. In their laboratory Andy and Simon show Adam how theyÌýheat diamond in a vacuumÌýand then use an iron catalyst to 'shave' layers of graphene off the diamond.Ìý

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Adam also speaks to Dr. Owen Guy from Swansea University who's developing a use for graphene in biosensors, small, ultra-sensitive devices which could be used to detect warning signals of cancer from a saliva or urine sample.

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