The First Atomic Bomb Test in 1945 Created an Entirely New Material

Key points

• During the Trinity nuclear test on July 16, 1945, in the New Mexico desert—the world's very first test of an atomic bomb—a new material spontaneously formed.
• It was discovered only recently, by an international research team coordinated by geologist Luca Bindi at the University of Florence, which identified the novel clathrate based on calcium, copper, and silicon.
• It's a material never before observed either in nature or as an artificial compound created in the laboratory.
• What Are Clathrates?
• The term “clathrates” denotes materials characterized by a “cage-like” structure that traps other atoms and molecules inside, giving them unique properties.