The most important factor in technological progress today is the ability of the material scientist to take apart and reconfigure the physical stuff of the world into substances that have never existed naturally on earth. This book contains interviews with experts in this field.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 267-283) and index.

Stuff, stuff, everywhere stuff -- Trial and error: Earth, air, fire, and water -- New stuff in the old world -- Secret architecture of stuff -- Birth of a superdiscipline: Materials research comes of age -- Materials Serengeti: Synthetic diamond -- Biomimetic materials -- Smart materials -- Other sightings -- Materials by design: Rite of atomic masons: Spray painting with atoms -- Road to band-gap engineering -- Composing steel -- Stuff that dreams are made of.