TWO Russian-born scientists shared the Nobel Prize in physics yesterday for "groundbreaking experiments" with the thinnest, strongest material known to mankind - a carbon vital for the creation of faster computers and transparent touch screens.

Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, professors at the University of Manchester in Britain, in 2004 isolated graphene, a form of carbon only one atom thick but more than 100 times stronger than steel, and showed it has exceptional properties, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.

Experiments with graphene could lead to the development of new superstrong materials to make satellites, airplanes and cars, as well as innovative electronics, the academy said in announcing the 10 million kronor (US$1.5 million) award.

"Graphene transistors are predicted to be substantially faster than today's silicon transistors and result in more efficient computers," the academy said in the citation. "Since it is practically transparent and a good conductor, graphene is suitable for producing transparent touch screens, light panels and maybe even solar cells."

Geim, 51, is a Dutch national while Novoselov, 36, holds British and Russian citizenship. Both are natives of Russia and started their careers in physics there. They first worked together in the Netherlands before moving to Britain.

Novoselov is among the youngest winners of the prize. The youngest Nobel laureate to date is Lawrence Bragg, who was 25 when he shared the physics award with his father William Bragg in 1915.

Geim told The Associated Press he didn't expect to win the prize this year and had forgotten that it was Nobel time when the prize committee called him from Stockholm.

The two scientists used simple Scotch tape as a crucial tool in their experiments, peeling off thin flakes of graphene from a lager piece of graphite, Geim said. "The hard work came later," he said, comparing the material to plastics in its ability to revolutionize the world.

"It has all the potential to change your life in the same way that plastics did," he said. "It is really exciting."

"This was a well-deserved award," said Phillip F. Schewe, spokesman for the American Institute of Physics in College Park, Maryland.

He said graphene may be a good material for making integrated circuits, small chips with millions of transistors that are the backbone of all modern telecommunications. Its properties could lead to potential uses in construction material, Schewe said, but added it would take a while "before this sort of technology moves into mainstream application."

• yesterday [´jestədi] n.&ad.昨天；前不久 (初中英语单词)
• carbon [´kɑ:bən] n.碳；(一张)复写纸 (初中英语单词)
• creation [kri´eiʃən] n.创作；作品；创造 (初中英语单词)
• academy [ə´kædəmi] n.专科学校；学会；协会 (初中英语单词)
• conductor [kən´dʌktə] n.指导者；向导者 (初中英语单词)
• suitable [´su:təbəl, ´sju:-] a.合适的，适当的 (初中英语单词)
• ability [ə´biliti] n.(办事)能力；才干 (初中英语单词)
• institute [´institju:t] n.学院 vt.建立；设置 (初中英语单词)
• construction [kən´strʌkʃən] n.建设；修建；结构 (初中英语单词)
• transparent [træns´peərənt] a.透明的；显而易见的 (高中英语单词)
• manchester [´mæntʃistə] n.曼彻斯特 (高中英语单词)
• efficient [i´fiʃənt] a.有效的，有能力的 (高中英语单词)
• scotch [skɔtʃ] vt.&n.刻痕(于)；划伤 (高中英语单词)
• potential [pə´tenʃəl] n.&a.潜在的；可能的 (高中英语单词)
• maryland [´mɛərilænd] n.马里兰(州) (高中英语单词)
• exceptional [ik´sepʃənəl] a.异常的，特别的 (英语四级单词)
• swedish [´swi:diʃ] a.瑞典人 n.瑞典语 (英语四级单词)
• citizenship [´sitiznʃip] n.公(市)民身分；国籍 (英语四级单词)
• backbone [´bækbəun] n.脊骨；骨干；支柱 (英语四级单词)
• substantially [səb´stænʃəli] ad.大体上；本质上 (英语六级单词)
• graphite [´græfait] n.石墨 (英语六级单词)
• spokesman [´spəuksmən] n.发言人 (英语六级单词)