Science

Researchers Extract One of Nature’s Strongest Materials From…Girl Scout Cookies?

Graphene, the strongest material known to man, is readily abundant. And as Rice University researchers show, it can be extracted from almost any carbon source. In fact, a box of Girl Scout cookies produced about $15 billion worth of graphene.

Rice University Researchers Make Graphene from Girl Scout Cookies

From this to that? Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms, was recently extracted from Girl Scout cookies. Future applications of graphene are expected in nanotechnology and electronics. Photo credit: Girl Scouts

Rice University Researchers Make Graphene from Girl Scout Cookies

Photo credit: Byung Hee Hong, SKKU

As reported by Popular Science (H/T Gizomodo), chemist James Tour claimed at a meeting he and his Rice University grad students could make graphene—a one atom thick layer of carbon atoms becoming known for its strength and conductivity—out of any carbon source. With this challenge, the Rice students grew high-quality graphine from grass, chocolate, a cockroach leg, dog excrement, and a box of Girl Scout shortbread cookies:

Two of the grad students in Tour’s lab did some math given the current commercial price for quality graphene—about $250 per two-inch square—and figured that a box of shortbread cookies could generate a roughly $15 billion profit if converted to graphene.

Of course, that has everything to do with scale, supply, and demand. Right now, graphene is difficult and expensive to produce in large quantities. A box of shortbread could yield a sheet of graphene that would cover three football fields if the means of production were there. And of course if supply were that inexpensive the price would drop substantially.

This two-dimensional structure with 200 times the strength of steel was discovered in 2004 and was the subject of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010.  While extracting graphene from carbon sources is currently a lengthy and expensive process, you can see graphine yourself  whenever you use a graphite pencil: the thin layer that’s deposited on a sheet of paper from the pencil is graphene.

Check out this video to see some future applications of the substance:

The same Rice University researchers believe that graphene’s first commercial application could be computer touchscreens. They believe graphene’s flexibility offers advantages over the more brittle indium tin oxide, currently the most common material used for such screens.

Comments (82)

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  • nostate
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 4:35pm

    Now, those cookies are gonna get REALLY expensive!

    Report Post » nostate  
    • rcw_68
      Posted on August 8, 2011 at 7:14pm

      $15 billion huh? I’ll sell you my box for the low low price of $1 million. I’m just saying…

      Report Post »  
    • Islesfordian
      Posted on August 9, 2011 at 6:48am

      This is more bad writing from the Blaze.

      “In fact, a box of Girl Scout cookies produced about $15 billion worth of graphene.”

      Later on in the story we learn that the $15B was only an estimate of what COULD be produced, but can‘t yet because the production capacity isn’t there.

      Do they pay their writers in Girl Scout cookies?

      Report Post » Islesfordian  
  • Dumpster Baby
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 4:32pm

    Something something OBAMA something.

    Report Post »  
  • codygreenhalgh
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 4:26pm

    One box of shortbread cookies and one box of thin-mints, that will be $30 billion dollars please.

    Report Post »  
    • Attention2Detail
      Posted on August 8, 2011 at 4:57pm

      If the FED keeps printing money, that won’t be a joke. Can’t wait to get my first billion dollar bill.

      Report Post » Attention2Detail  
  • AzSage
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 4:03pm

    so technically speaking, we are all worth a lot more as graphite excrement than as people.

    Report Post » AzSage  
    • Larry
      Posted on August 9, 2011 at 3:25am

      I can’t speak for anyone else, but I sure am :-)

      Report Post » Larry  
    • TruthLover
      Posted on August 9, 2011 at 2:06pm

      Maybe that’s what we can start doing instead of cremating. A whole new kind of death benefit that the government will be happy to tax!

      Report Post » TruthLover  
    • cemerius
      Posted on August 9, 2011 at 3:24pm

      Well Al Gore’s worth must have jumped! With all the BS he throws around…..they should make graphene the global/climate change warming polar bears living together etc… MASCOT :)

      Report Post » cemerius  
    • demyxtheyoung
      Posted on August 9, 2011 at 4:35pm

      Well, I know I’m not. xD

      Report Post » demyxtheyoung  
  • nelan72
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 3:32pm

    Soldiers headed for Iraq and Afganistan are giving up on buying their own body armor to protect them and started buying the Girl Scouts Trefoil or shortbread cookies.

    Report Post »  
  • righthanddrive
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 3:28pm

    So then we should dump all this global warming stuff and make as much carbon as we can. Can you imagine light weight autos made from this stuff ? 0 to a billion mph in nothing flat! WOW, eat your heart out Al Baby.

    Report Post »  
  • PeachyinGA
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 2:54pm

    ONE OF NATURE’S STRONGEST MATERIALS: I read this article expecting to see Estrogen as an ingredient :0

    Report Post » PeachyinGA  
    • sissykatz
      Posted on August 8, 2011 at 5:45pm

      Peachyinga

      That is too funny……. I live in Roswell, Ga. where are you from?

      Report Post »  
  • Just in time
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 2:40pm

    carbon fibers, this is news?

    Report Post »  
    • HellPhish89
      Posted on August 9, 2011 at 12:11am

      not carbon fiber. graphene can/could be used to make carbon nanotubes.

      Report Post »  
  • Old_Warrior
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 2:36pm

    Well, this is easy money. I’ll buy a box of girl scout cookies, attach the research, and sell it to the United States for $15 Billion. It sounds about right anyways, considering what they pay for hammers and toilet seats.

    Report Post » Old_Warrior  
  • BlackCrow
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 2:36pm

    Don’t touch the THIN MINTS!!!!!!!

    Report Post » BlackCrow  
  • SacredHonor1776
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 2:18pm

    You could make graphene out of people. Just saying!

    Report Post »  
  • KickinBack
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 2:15pm

    And I used to like the carmel delights :(

    Report Post » KickinBack  
  • ROMANS 10-9
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 2:13pm

    Strong cookie sales and No Union!

    Report Post » ROMANS 10-9  
  • godlovinmom
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 2:01pm

    All those years as a girl scout leader and selling cookies, I was actually selling graphene? Who knew?

    Report Post » godlovinmom  
    • Lt_Taz
      Posted on August 8, 2011 at 2:15pm

      Probably should have done some research, but alas I guess many of us missed the boat. Just saying.

      Report Post »  
    • Scott
      Posted on August 8, 2011 at 10:30pm

      If you look up the definition of graphene, you will see that the article has stated proper facts. It is
      indeed one atom thick. Just saying.

      Report Post »  
  • JimCDew
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 2:00pm

    Looks like that space elevator idea is more than just a syfy pipe dream.

    Report Post »  
  • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 1:58pm

    “… he and his Rice University grad students could make graphene—a one INCH thick layer of carbon atoms becoming known for its strength and conductivity—out of any carbon source.”

    Substitute “atom” for “inch” and you’d be far more accurate.

    Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on August 8, 2011 at 7:26pm

      Yup. Failure to proof read before going to print (or whatever it’s called in an electronic medium) really takes a lot away from a news story. You have to wonder: “What else is wrong in the story?”

      Report Post »  
    • Howyinthehills
      Posted on August 8, 2011 at 10:01pm

      Think of all the neat applications. Mosquito proof clothing, burglar proof windows, thinner wallets, O’Bama money that disappears when you turn it sideways, improved condoms, fold up inflatable boats, Wal-mart bags, wow the sky’s the limit (parachutes).

      Report Post » Howyinthehills  
  • Cashel
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 1:53pm

    Hang onto your fruitcake!

    Report Post »  
  • capitalismrocks
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 1:50pm

    Interesting…

    I wonder what its weight is compared to steel and could this stuff be used in everything from autobody chassis’s to airframes, could it be used as ultra cheap structural building materials to make cheap housing in area’s such as Haiti where they need such things….

    I will have to do a bit more research on this stuff, but if it is the wonder building material of the future, we may be able to solve vast amounts of structural problems with this stuff and since is super abundant, this means everyone, everywhere could use it and I‘m sure it’ll become dirt cheap in no time….

    Now if we could find fuel we could make some something abundant — like Hydrogen, but didn‘t take vast amounts of electricity to produce and didn’t cost a fortune…. well, in 10-15 years we‘ll probably have ultra cheap hydrogen generators next to everyone’s house and in 5-7 years after that, more compact versions in cars that are even less expensive….

    Report Post » capitalismrocks  
    • shirelover
      Posted on August 8, 2011 at 2:11pm

      But, but, but if everyone has access to cheap energy, how can we possibly force everyone back into a small village lifestyle??? (agenda 21)

      Report Post » shirelover  
    • A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
      Posted on August 8, 2011 at 3:31pm

      @capitalismrocks,

      “… could it be used as ultra cheap structural building materials to make cheap housing in area’s such as Haiti where they need such things….”

      While you wonder about that, in the mean time, check out Concrete Canvas.

      Concrete Canvas Shelters ‘09
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBHVKFCoYFc

      Report Post »  
    • UlyssesP
      Posted on August 8, 2011 at 4:41pm

      @shirelover
      They’ll beat us with their graphene night sticks.

      Report Post » UlyssesP  
    • holy ghostbuster
      Posted on August 9, 2011 at 7:23am

      Don’t worry, the labor unions will prevent any graphene manufacturing plants from emerging in the U.S.

      Report Post » holy ghostbuster  
  • dcwu
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 1:46pm

    Does Agor know someone has carbon?

    Report Post »  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on August 8, 2011 at 1:52pm

      Superglue Eat a GS cookie and it stays on you , forever

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • Rijkstra
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 1:42pm

    One-inch thick! I believe the article is in error. This stuff is like one atom thick.

    Report Post » Rijkstra  
  • SREGN
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 1:28pm

    Damn, ate mine.

    Report Post »  
  • JLGunner
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 1:27pm

    Wonder what we could find in a swiss cake roll?

    Report Post » JLGunner  
  • JLGunner
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 1:25pm

    Damn Somoas!

    Report Post » JLGunner  
  • Chuck Stein
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 1:25pm

    “$15 billion in profit” Really? That much in profit? Or is that how much the graphene is worth?
    I doubt that the costs of processing are negligible.

    Report Post »  
    • sWampy
      Posted on August 8, 2011 at 1:35pm

      15 billion in production costs, these guys don’t understand economics very well.

      Report Post »  
    • AlansTigg
      Posted on August 8, 2011 at 2:06pm

      $15 billion “worth” not profit….BIIIIIIIG difference

      Report Post » AlansTigg  
    • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
      Posted on August 8, 2011 at 2:15pm

      How much does enough cellophane tape to cover three football fields and a bunch of pencils cost?

      Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on August 8, 2011 at 4:30pm

      I thought the strongest material know to Man was the C60 Buckey-ball (Carbon 60)?

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • biohazard23
    Posted on August 8, 2011 at 1:22pm

    I thought Girl Scout cookies were made from real Girl Scouts……

    Report Post » biohazard23  
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