Recently Japan has seen a boom in the development of various eco-friendly materials. One example that stands out is a new type of "aerogel". This is a lightweight, transparent material that offers extremely high levels of insulation. Many see this material as a new way to drastically improve efficiency for the heating and air conditioning of buildings. Another material that is attracting attention, is a new type of "cellulose nanofiber" that is made from plants yet is 5 times stronger than steel. It offers several potential applications, ranging from stationary to aircraft.
