If you had to create the perfect material, you’d probably want it to be plentiful and relatively inexpensive, strong and lightweight, easy to combine with other materials, resistant to heat and corrosion, and a good conductor of electricity. In short, you’d probably want it to be exactly like aluminium (official IUPAC spelling).

Aluminium is the most common metal in our planet’s crust, the third most plentiful chemical element on our planet (only oxygen and silicon exist in greater quantity), and the second most popular metal for making things (after iron/steel). We all see and use aluminium every day, often without even realizing it.