#10: NASA Talks SMART
“Commanding a lot of attention recently are shape memory alloys (SMA), a type of metal that can deform and then return to its original shape. NASA is using the material to develop airless rover tires.
The SMART Tire Company, a California startup, which has a license to develop and manufacture the SMA superelastic tire for bicycle and scooter tires, pitched ABC’s Shark Tank for funding. Although the Sharks didn’t bite with any investments, the company continues its work in a new research and development center in Akron, Ohio. SMAs could become a game changer across a variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, biomedical, and more.” — NASA