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Who knew that a blemish could have healing powers?

For a hollow cylinder no wider than a strand of DNA, a carbon nanotube is exceptionally strong — 100 times stronger than steel, in fact. It’s also remarkably robust, even when chunks of its body are blasted away by heat or radiation. A new study by Rice offers the first explanation: Tiny blemishes in the molecular structure act as a kind of “smart repair machine,” crawling over the surface of the nanotube, rearranging atoms and healing damaged skin. It’s a marvel of science and nature that’s no small wonder.