Laws are not in fact unbreakable, most laws are theories that have not been disproved.

Gold can only be pressed to about 100 atoms or something similar.

If this were to reach the field of electronics then there would be some amazing applications, for instance the internet is being limited by the size of the emitters and receivers in optical media, if this material could be used to develop smaller versions of these then greater speeds can be achieved.

now on to the next step, time to replace binary with something more than 2 values :)

Shaun Ison, Leicestershire,

If the US would leave germany unattended and would permit him to withdraw from the npt, and would not interfer with him, then Germany would develop and create things that would let US stare at it and the rest of the nations with a totally surprised gesture. Germant really plays the most important role in the world in no matter any field

Mohad J. Timory, Rockwall, TX

if the US would leave Germany unattended and would let him permit to withdraw from the npt, then Germany would change this world like no one has ever seen it before. Germany would develop and create things that would astonish the world, and it would be impossible for the US to do the same in atleast the next 2 or 3 decades

Mohad J. Timory, Rockwall, t

Now this is exciting! Aside from many other potential spin-offs could this be the beginning of the end for not only particulate vehicle emissions but also for all harmful vehicle emissions?.. or am I being wildly optimistic?

Angus Powles, Hertfordshire, UK

It seems there is some confusion over the law of physics, as they produce the immutable, but of themselves the law is set, otherwise they would not work as a universal or even as a multi-layered application. It is our understanding of them that might still be lacking if the law appears to be broken, so roll on our complete understanding of the law.

Paul, Mayo, RoI

Lets hope that one more UK invention is not lost to foreign
developers,such as magnetic resonance,magnetic levitation trains (maglev) etc,etc,wake up UK,

john price, boca raton, fl.usa.

I'm sure a lot of science fiction fans are thinking, "Solar Sail."

Joe, Bellevue, WA

Nothing in this physical universe can possess only two dimensions and still have mass.

This is the second of the two demonstrably false statements by the writer, the first being about "physical laws being defied." As noted by another poster, that is not the proper way to express the concept, as physical laws are immutable and universal in their application.

That sloppiness aside, one can only wonder what the consequences will be when government inevitably seizes this technology and puts it in the service of the State -- at the expense of the individual, of course.

James Greenberg, Tustin, CA

This could be the breakthrough the condom industry has been waiting for.

Tim, Montrose, Colorado, USA

Wow, finally! Really super-undetectable condoms!

Robert, Palmetto, Florida

I was under the impression that pure gold could be pressed into flake at a thickness of 1 atom and still maintain its structural integrity.

George, Denver,

The applications of this technology could be enormous. Another likely application would be more efficient solar electricity panels. As for the global economics, there are three laws to remember. (1) Investors will seek to find cheaper ways to produce things - meaning investment in innovation and/or cheaper labor. (2) Laborers will seek higher wages, and (3) Those entities feeling the greater need for change rather than protection will lead the way in change

Dan McDonald, Cleveland, USA/ Oklahoma

avenyet,
The only reason why the Brits might fall behind the Americans in manufactirung and marketing something like this is that in Britain there is a stifling amount of government regulation.
Deregulate and succeed!

Brian, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA

It does not defy the laws of physics; it goes against previously held scientific thinking.
We scientists often publish negative results and change our opinion in light of new evidence. Many non-scientists, especially the religious lobby, have long been quick to sensationalise this as a weakness, when in fact it is a great strength. I didn't think the Times would do the same.

Stan, Tokyo, Japan

the good old british there always coming up with the new break thoughts that are worth somthing shame that the americans will will get it and manurfacture it and claim it as there own like most other things >_> but still good news but now we stand at a very small problem this technolgy can only go so far and now "making it smaller" is no longer an option we really need to be thinking out side the box now... whats next...

avenyet, birmingham, England

It is interesting to see how individual argue on any news,rather we should see as a perspective for growth.
It is really sad to read comment like $1/day by India. and China.These countries will growing and if others cant vie for the better/compete,they should not unearth their poor idea.

praveen, Pune, India

This is interesting!
Aside from the implications of misuse/abuse by the various nefarious entities, I can see several application for the material under discussion, including the manufacture of lenses having some very unique properties, as well as a filter that would allow a swimmer/diver to extract oxygen from water, and maybe even allow a more efficient extraction of hydrogen from water too.
The possibilities of using the material for a desalination plant appear to be possible as well.

ET, Everett, Washington

I find it amazing that the general attitude of the comments are so negative and pessamistic. Not that i disagree, but it is instructive to see that i am not the only one who seems to have a bleak and hopeless view of the world. This incredible advance of science and technology will of course be exploited by those in power to solidify their position no matter the cost to us and our children. How sad that it doesnt have to be this way. But of course it is anyways. Bummer.

chris, garden grove, ca

"An incredible breakthrough.But it's a pity all our work with medicines in the last two centuries,though cheating death for a while,have merely made us suffer our sicknesses for longer.
They will never find a cure for things like cancer and parkinson's simply because they are the evidence of the presence of an alien living entity,a parasite that's immortal.Overlooking this time and time again and merely treating the symptoms is helping sufferers in a false belief we are just atoms and molecules.We are soul and spirit."

Sorry?

Paul, Windsor, UK

Us Americans will make some revolutionary inventions with this technology and subsequently will ofshore the production to China and India to be made by workers making 1 dollar a day.
The technology will primarily be used to make deadlier and more advanced weapon systems there by affirming whos on top of the food chain.

Nathan, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Capitol idea, Chris. Let's put the government in charge of developing it. We all know how efficient they are. All they have to do is raise taxes and hire 10,000 more public servants (sic). That's so much better than letting the greedy corporations assume all the financial risk.

Al, Montreal,

If this was impossible by the theorists, then their dogmatic view that nothing can exceed the speed of light is probably wrong as well.

mike, Lanc, OH

It’s an interesting and potentially useful discovery, but I think it’s incorrect to say that it defies the laws of physics. It just proves that science’s understanding of the laws of physics was incorrect.

Mike, Arlington, Texas, USA

what a fantastic bit of news! economists can sigh in relief now that computers will be potentially able to maintain, and perhaps outstrip, the growth in processor speed necessary to prevent a possible worldwide slow-down... Bonus!
And, while we're at it - who cares where the researchers come from Miss Russia? This was made possible by the good workings of British (and German) Institutions at the pinnacle of world science - surely worthy of applause, not glory-catching and biterness..?

Kiran Kandola, Cardiff, Wales

Hope they make a condom out of it

James Black, London, England

I'm wondering how it holds up against hard radiation. Could a few square kilometers of this stuff be turned into a solar sail?

Michael, Pueblo, CO. USA

Caroline, you misunderstand the term "Law". A "Law" is simply a statement that has not yet been shown to be wrong and supports all the evidence related to it. For example the first law of thermodynamics states Matter and energy are interchangable but neither is destroyable".... The conservation of mass and energy. No evidence that this isn't the case has been found and all the evidence points towards it being the case. If we suddenly found matter appearing out of nowhere we would have to modify this "Law". A Law is simply something to work by that at any one particular time seems to make sense. To break these Laws is a wonderful thing as it shows that we have advanced over our former selves that held these laws to be true.

Nik, Swansea, Wales

Yeah, but is it waterproof?

Doug, West Milford, NJ, USA

It clearly doesn't "defy the laws of physics" or we wouldn't be able to do it. Can you find a reporter who has actually done a science degree, not merely watched every episode of Star Trek?

Andy, SOuthampton, Hants

Well, if this material DEFIES the laws of Physics, maybe it is time to revise those laws! As for a name, how about
atomatic technology or teeneytineyitseybitsey tech! ;-)

Regardless of what label they attach to it, it sounds like remarkable stuff! I want some NOW!

D.B. Cooper, Neversburg, OH, USA

I admire the scientists with the insight to achieve what theorists held to be impossible. The human mind has the potential to achieve anything, when applied, and has challenged a belief.

Royston Simmons, Basingstoke, UK

Seems like two people mentioned in this article - of the University of Manchester - originally come from Russia.

Irina, Moscow, Russia

So a physical substance has been created "that defies the laws of physics". Where exactly did you find the list of these laws which cannot be overturned by experiencial evidence?

caroline, London, London

Chris, from Toronto - I am no fan of corporations but frankly I suspect it is only if large corporations take up these new ideas that the 'man in the street' will ever gain access to the potentially revolutionary products of this technology. Thanks to corporations almost everyone can see and benefit from the silicon chip - how could 'greedy corporations' make money if they didn't make things that we all wanted and could afford? Large corporations can make low cost products available to the masses. In any case for every greeedy corporation there are thousands of greedy individuals - it's called human nature, and it goes along with innovativeness and all the other human virtues and frailties. I look forward to seeing what will appear next.

michele, Wales,

Brilliant stuff. You can be sure the Americans will eventually start to make it commercially and then sell it back to us! I hope our chaps are wise enough to invest in some patenting

rex Johnson , Sevenoaks , Kent

An incredible breakthrough.But it's a pity all our work with medicines in the last two centuries,though cheating death for a while,have merely made us suffer our sicknesses for longer.
They will never find a cure for things like cancer and parkinson's simply because they are the evidence of the presence of an alien living entity,a parasite that's immortal.Overlooking this time and time again and merely treating the symptoms is helping sufferers in a false belief we are just atoms and molecules.We are soul and spirit.

Vince, ,

Further proof that the UK can be and is at the forefront of technology what a shame we can be the master of invention but are unable to produce anything and rely on others to put our good work into practice!

Louis Cannell, Northampton, UK

Not to mention the revolution in spelling.

John, London,

Our universities are the up there with the best in the world! Amazing bit of research.

Nim, Lincoln,

why not 'angstromtechnology' instead of nanotechnology?!

Mat, strasbourg, france

"Potential for separating gasses into their constituent parts."...Here comes a revolution in feul cell technology. This will be fun to watch.

Jeff, Portland, Oregon, United States

So, the thinnest membrane ever is by Max Planck! I like it.

Bryan Lawrence, Hampshire, UK

Get ready for the climate change with one carbon atom thickness clothing!

Attila Stersky, Ottawa, Canada

Wow!

Paul Francis, Brisbane, Australia

Do we still need centrifuges for uranium enrichment ?

Joenobody, Poulsbo, USA

Unfortunately it is probably only a matter of time before the medical and computer companies get a hold of this and prevent us all from accessing this potentially revolutionary technology. Imagine the medical (and technological) leaps that can be gained; but this can only be done a large scale if we keep it out the hands of greedy corporations.

Chris , Toronto, Canada

Wow, I agree with Mr Quick. You can't defy the laws of physics, you can only modify them. By `law', scientists don't mean an unchanging dogma, rather it relates to current understanding of the way nature works. Like all science, it's not set in stone.

Zango, blahblah,

Question: what would be the area of a graphene layer that captured all the excess carbon in the atmosphere?

ButterflyMind, London,

Great to Manchester University at the very top again, as with the Mark 1 computer, and then Ferranti. The implications for computers may be profound, but alas the exploitation, when it comes, will be by the giants of semiconductor manufacturing.

Keith Dixon, Calgary, Canada / Alberta

despite the fact that my A-level physics and chemistry knowledge doesn't allow me to fully understand this, i love this article, and the fact that humans are capable of discovering/inventing/understanding stuff like this.

Anthony Murray, Plymouth,

A truly next move in the ability of man to master his so called limitations.
A great achievment.

Eden D fairbanks, Norwich, UK

The ground-breaking discovery of graphene membranes will open many unlocked doors.
I moreover believe we are not far from the cybernetics of the trilogy of the 'Terminator.' The requirements are to create an artificial intelligence that communicates and able to function. In Japan, this is ready electronics.
The team of the Madamme Tussaud's morevover can create the life-like plastics in the world.
These two technology combined can create the real-life machines. The combination of this with the thinniest material, we may be just few seconds behind the sci-fi.

Raphael Michael, Surrey, England

Fabulous, totally fabulous. The applications seem to be endless and profound. Hooray for R & D!

James, Jacksonville, Illinois U. S.

Just what laws of physics does this defy?

neal, cleveland, OH USA

If I inadvertently inhale graphene would I:

1) ever know it, and

2) suffocate?

T. J. Cassidy, Arlington, Va., U.S.A.

"...defies the laws of physics..."

Anyone who uses such a phrase does not know much about science.

Mr Quick, Nottingham,