Stronger than steel. Grows without fertilizer and while growing emits more oxygen than the equivalent amount of wood pulp. The first thing to flower after the bomb flattened Hiroshima. The only building still standing after the earthquake in Costa Rica in 1992. What is it? (A good Jeopardy question if ever there was one.) The answer is, of course, 'bamboo'. You only have to see all the skyscraper scaffolding in Hong Kong to know that the first sentence of this entry must be true. Well, how about a bamboo bicycle? Like the linked article says, "The bicycle is one of the world's most brilliant inventions", and that bamboo is pretty special material to make it with.
Posted by Joe at July 27, 2003 08:06 PMI love bamboo. I want bamboo floors. You'd think they'd be cheap(ish) but noooo.
Posted by: Lisa at July 28, 2003 08:28 AMI've never heard of bamboo floors, but now you mention it that would be rather cool and we already know they'd be strong. I wonder if it is expensive because it has to be straightened or at least cut in straight strips?
Posted by: Joe at July 28, 2003 09:41 AMNot necessarily strong. Bamboo is strongest in tension. Flooring would involve a combination of tension, compression and torsion.
(Sorry, really in touch with my inner geek here. Doesn't help that an old friend says she finds that exciting.)
Posted by: DJ at July 28, 2003 07:59 PMWell we need your 'inner geek' to keep us on the straight and narrow! Thanks. 8+)
Posted by: Joe at July 28, 2003 08:27 PM