Move over graphene; get outta here diamond. There's a new carbon supermaterial in town,
and it's stronger and stiffer than either of you.
Researchers from Rice University in Houston have calculated the properties of a new form of carbon that promises more strength and stiffness than any other known material. Called Carbyne, it's a chain of carbon atoms linked either by alternate triple and single bonds, or just by consecutive double bonds. And it's quite something.

Their mathematical models predict that Carbyne is a little stronger than both graphene and diamond, and around twice as stiff as the stiffest known materials. It's also fairly flexible—a bit like a strand of DNA....MORE