Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
From carbon nanotubes to multi-layered graphene, we explore the revolutionary materials that could turn space elevators from sci-fi dreams into real-world infrastructure. Discover how these supermaterials might let us weave ribbons to the stars.
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Credits:
Materials For Space Elevators - From Carbon Nanotubes To Graphene And Beyond...
Episode 741; July 24, 2025
Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur
Edited by:
Adrian Nixon
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images
Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound epidemicsound.com/creator
Chris Zabriskie, "Unfoldment, Revealment", "A New Day in a New Sector"
Aerium, "Deijocht"
Stellardrone, "Red Giant", "Billions and Billions"
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:09 The Vision of the Space Elevator
2:46 The Rope That Reaches the Sky
9:08 Manufacturing the Megastructure
12:58 Tether Design and Variants
19:57 PIA
21:52 Defects and Composites: Strength in Layers
22:48 Power and Payload
25:20 Safety, Scaling, and the Road Ahead
From carbon nanotubes to multi-layered graphene, we explore the revolutionary materials that could turn space elevators from sci-fi dreams into real-world infrastructure. Discover how these supermaterials might let us weave ribbons to the stars.
Go to PIAVPN.com/IsaacArthur to get 83% off from our sponsor Private Internet Access with 4 months free!
Visit our Website: isaacarthur.net
Join Nebula: go.nebula.tv/isaacarthur
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/IsaacArthur
Support us on Subscribestar: subscribestar.com/isaac-arthur
Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264
Reddit: reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur
Twitter: twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.
SFIA Discord Server: discord.gg/53GAShE
Credits:
Materials For Space Elevators - From Carbon Nanotubes To Graphene And Beyond...
Episode 741; July 24, 2025
Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur
Edited by:
Adrian Nixon
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images
Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound epidemicsound.com/creator
Chris Zabriskie, "Unfoldment, Revealment", "A New Day in a New Sector"
Aerium, "Deijocht"
Stellardrone, "Red Giant", "Billions and Billions"
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:09 The Vision of the Space Elevator
2:46 The Rope That Reaches the Sky
9:08 Manufacturing the Megastructure
12:58 Tether Design and Variants
19:57 PIA
21:52 Defects and Composites: Strength in Layers
22:48 Power and Payload
25:20 Safety, Scaling, and the Road Ahead
