Overview

• Researchers discovered that metals like copper become stronger, not weaker, when struck at high velocities and elevated temperatures.
• This counterintuitive effect challenges decades of conventional understanding about metal behavior under stress.
• The study involved shooting microscopic sapphire particles at metal samples using laser beams to achieve high impact speeds.
• High-speed cameras captured the impacts, revealing that increased temperatures enhance the metals' strength.
• Potential applications include designing more resilient materials for extreme environments, such as spacecraft shields and helicopter blades.