Of all the metals that make modern life possible, the most widely used one is steel. However, the popularity of steel is not only related to its individual qualities.
Let’s take modern construction, for example. Steel has been vastly used in constructions for over the past century; it has allowed us to build structures of over 2,500 feet tall, making them more resistant than ever before.
However, even for these structures, steel is only half of the equation. Modern buildings rely on the different properties of their materials. Concrete, for example, is strong, steel is ductile; together, in reinforced concrete, they use their different properties to create a better solution.
We can learn valuable lessons from this winning combination, as better solutions are certainly needed for the crucial issues we face today. With the climate crisis threatening our ecosystems and global epidemics deteriorating populations, we must join towards common goals that will benefit society.