So, among my various things, I've picked up and started focusing on one of my superhero characters again. Not a Crystal Falls one, but one for my own world, and I've started thinking more about materials and technology for her suit.

Which got me started on a whole different question. What will the next generation of materials be- in armor, in construction, in vehicles. I've seen research on different things, but none seem to be picking up steam as of yet. Any of you seen any developing materials that look like they have potential?

Most of the "cool alternative inventions" I've seen lately are actually of recycled/organic nature. I realize that's a trend right now, which might fade from popularity--or it might not. If liberal politics, lack of resources, and environmental issues continue, organic/recycled industries might become even more prominent than ever in the coming centuries.

I just saw on FB today a post about a company that's making can rings (you know, for holding 6-packs together) out of the leftover wheat from beer production, instead of plastic. The result is edible and biodegradable, so it's safe for animals. Completely bizarre and yet ingenious.

Obviously, wheat isn't going to work for armor (or could it?), but inventive recycling or organic alternatives would be a fascinating choice for a future universe.

I just saw those can rings too. They were pretty awesome. So you have a really good point there- although sustainable would be a better term than recycled/organic. I think we'll definitely see a continued rise in recycled/organic materials and products in the next few decades, which makes sense and is a brilliant move that I fully endorse. It just takes time to reorient our paradigm when it comes to manufacturing. Construction materials and household items will probably all start transitioning to sustainable materials rather than plastic in the near future.

It could even work for armor, depending on how its done and what the basis would be for, but not for this character.

The only thing that comes to mind is research being done on the strength of spider silk, and how that could be manufactured someday.

http://news.mit.edu/2012/spider-web-strength-0202
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/whats-stron ... ider-silk/

That's what came to mind for me as well.

Spider silk could be a possibility, depending on how that happens.

There are also carbon nanotubes, which have some very interesting properties that I hadn't heard of before.