HOMO FABER
Inventions and Discoveries of New Materials

©The Trustees of the British Museum

Guided tour duration: 60 minutes

Curated by the Associazione Euresis and Camplus

A decisive aspect in human history is the ability to use the materials provided by nature to improve living conditions. Even today, the discovery of new materials with novel and fascinating properties —such as superconductors, biocompatible and biodegradable materials, and two-dimensional structures—opens up new possibilities.

These “new bricks” are ultimately the brilliant assembly by human ingenuity of the “old bricks” that form the foundation of all physical reality — atoms — thanks to a deep understanding of the natural laws that govern their behavior.

What enables this “level of novelty” is the encounter between the givenness of nature and the creative work of the scientist, who “builds” by obeying and harnessing the rules that are already present.

The exhibition will feature several significant examples to illustrate how discoveries or inventions of new materials come about. Sometimes, as in the case of superconducting materials, it is a scientific discovery that “suggests” possible applications; other times, the need to solve a specific problem guides the development of new solutions, such as biocompatible materials used in medicine or new biodegradable plastics.

Visitors will be welcomed into an arena where they can meet researchers and experts. Regular presentations will introduce the exhibition themes before entering the main space, which will feature panels and several exhibits, divided into six sections: Plastics, Semiconductors, Nanomaterials, Medical Materials, Shape-Memory Materials, and Superconductors.