Mouldable gold can be shaped just like clay

Researchers in Japan have created gold clay that can be sculpted into 3D structures that retain their shape even at high temperatures

Synthetic clays are surprisingly hard to make. Most natural clays consist of 2D silicate particles, roughly 2µm across and hexagonal in shape. These particles mesh together and attractive forces help to hold them in place – meaning they can be sculpted into 3D macrostructures that can hold their shape even when heated and dried. But in the lab, it takes a high level of structural control to produce particles that are just the right size and shape to stack together and form free-standing 3D structures.