For years since I saw Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, I have been fascinated by the words "transparent aluminum". Well, it looks like we have something CLOSE!

http://physicsweb.org/articles/news/8/8/9

 

That's aluminum oxide, my friend, AKA alumina, which is known as sapphire when it is in single crystal form. So this breakthrough wrt James Doohan, videlicet, transparent aluminum oxide, is nothing special. A transparent bulk metal isn't really possible since the electrons at the Fermi level would absorb visible photons no matter how the material is structured. Transparent = semiconductor or insulator unless you are talking about thin films.

 

Yes but for us who're less educated, it should be exciting nontheless

 

Us dummys just know, "glass breaks, metal don't."