In 2003, Russian physicists Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov discovered a method to produce graphene, the thinnest substance in the world, by using sticky tape to separate an atom-thick layer from a block of graphite. Their work earned them the 2010 Nobel Prize for Physics, and today, the applications of graphene and other two-dimensional substances have created a global industry. Graphene is significantly stronger than steel, a better conductor than any metal, and can function as a molecular sieve to purify water. Electronic components made from graphene are much smaller than silicon microchips and can be both flexible and transparent, enabling the integration of electronics into clothing, the production of solar cells for any surface, or even the creation of invisible temporary tattoos that monitor health. Ultra-thin materials represent the next major advancement since the transistor revolutionized electronics.