A member of the Orduno Castro family, who lives in North Carolina and cannot cross into Mexico, kisses her niece during a family meeting at the border fence that separates Mexico and the US, near Mexicali, Mexico. Reuters
A member of the Orduno Castro family, who lives in North Carolina and cannot cross into Mexico, kisses her niece during a family meeting at the border fence that separates Mexico and the US, near Mexicali, Mexico. Reuters
Flooded streets in the Sao Jao district of Porto Alegre, Brazil, where rescuers were searching for survivors. AFP
Flooded streets in the Sao Jao district of Porto Alegre, Brazil, where rescuers were searching for survivors. AFP
The rubble of a building under construction that collapsed in George, South Africa, where several workers are thought to be trapped. Reuters
The rubble of a building under construction that collapsed in George, South Africa, where several workers are thought to be trapped. Reuters
Mosaics on the ceiling of the ancient Orthodox church, now converted as the Kariye Mosque, in Istanbul. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan opened the mosque for worship, four years after he ordered its transformation. AFP
Mosaics on the ceiling of the ancient Orthodox church, now converted as the Kariye Mosque, in Istanbul. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan opened the mosque for worship, four years after he ordered its transformation. AFP
Supporters of Israel interrupt a pro-Palestine protest, on the campus of the University of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. EPA
Supporters of Israel interrupt a pro-Palestine protest, on the campus of the University of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. EPA
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shows his finger marked with indelible ink, after casting his ballot during the third phase of national elections, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Bloomberg
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shows his finger marked with indelible ink, after casting his ballot during the third phase of national elections, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Bloomberg
People attend the annual Jack In The Green parade and festival in Hastings, Britain. Reuters
People attend the annual Jack In The Green parade and festival in Hastings, Britain. Reuters
Vietnamese celebrate the 70th anniversary of the 1954 Dien Bien Phu victory over French colonial forces, at a stadium in Dien Bien Phu city. AFP
Vietnamese celebrate the 70th anniversary of the 1954 Dien Bien Phu victory over French colonial forces, at a stadium in Dien Bien Phu city. AFP
Rubbish blocks a river's flow, causing nearby residential areas to be flooded, in Depok, Indonesia. AFP
Rubbish blocks a river's flow, causing nearby residential areas to be flooded, in Depok, Indonesia. AFP
Palestinians inspect the damage around the Derby family house struck during Israeli bombardment of Rafah's Tal Al Sultan district, in Gaza. AFP
Palestinians inspect the damage around the Derby family house struck during Israeli bombardment of Rafah's Tal Al Sultan district, in Gaza. AFP
A model arrives at the red carpet for the 2024 Met Gala, the annual benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, in New York. EPA
A model arrives at the red carpet for the 2024 Met Gala, the annual benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, in New York. EPA

News

Today's best photos: From family meeting at Mexican border to Met Gala red carpet

The National picks the most striking images from around the world

The National

May 07, 2024

  • English
  • Arabic

More from The National:

Tuesday's best photos: From lightning over Kuwait to a sandcastle in South Korea

Monday's best photos: From a beach in Gambia to Children's Day in South Korea

Saturday's best photos: From NBA playoffs to a tornado over Texas

Friday's best photos: From apes on horseback to Canadian tulips

Thursday's best photos: From rain in Abu Dhabi to Swan Lake in Sydney

What is graphene?

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.

At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.

It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.

But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.

In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties. 

 

War on waste
Our commentary on Brexit
Jebel Ali Dragons 26 Bahrain 23

Dragons
Tries: Hayes, Richards, Cooper
Cons: Love
Pens: Love 3

Bahrain
Tries: Kenny, Crombie, Tantoh
Cons: Phillips
Pens: Phillips 2

Main report
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
AUSTRALIA SQUAD

Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle

Biog

Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara

He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada

Father of two sons, grandfather of six

Plays golf once a week

Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family

Walks for an hour every morning

Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India

2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business

 

Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin

Charlotte Gainsbourg

Rest

(Because Music)

STAGE 4 RESULTS

1 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 4:51:51

2 David Dekker (NED) Team Jumbo-Visma

3 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 

4 Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis

5 Matteo Moschetti (ITA) Trek-Segafredo

General Classification

1 Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 12:50:21

2 Adam Yates (GBR) Teamn Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:43

3 Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:03

4 Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:43

5 Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

Updated: May 07, 2024, 5:51 PM`