Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, one of two leading firms working on high-speed Hyperloop projects, announced Tuesday that it’s building its pods out of a material called “vibranium,” The Verge reports.
Sound familiar? That’s the same name given to the fictional material used to make Captain America’s shield, among other fictional technology in the Marvel universe.
HTT’s vibranium is really just reinforced carbon fiber with a attention-grabbing name. But the company does claim one impressive innovation: The material will have internal sensors that can relay critical data about a Hyperloop pod’s hull to its operator.
The Hyperloop is a theoretical high-speed transportation system that its proponents say could reach speeds of over 700 miles per hour. There are two primary components: A long, large tube with a near-vacuum internal environment, and a pod that could carry people or cargo through those tubes propelled by a large fan or a series of magnets. HTT and one other firm, Hyperloop One, are the two leading companies aiming to build a Hyperloop. Early tests have been promising, but neither has yet to demonstrate a full-scale attempt.
- Donald Trump Was Just Indicted. Here's What to Know About the Charges and the Case
- What Could Happen Next for Donald Trump
- Trump's Indictment Drama Showcased His Rivals' Weakness
- Inside Ukraine's Push to Try Putin For War Crimes
- Bad Bunny's Next Move
- Elon Musk Signs Open Letter Urging AI Labs to Pump the Brakes
- Eliezer Yudkowsky: Pausing AI Developments Isn't Enough. We Need to Shut it All Down
- 'How Is This Still Happening?' A Survivor Questions America's Gun Violence Problem
- Cheryl Strayed Will Always Be Here for You
- Who Should Be on the 2023 TIME100? Vote Now
