Scientists Discover Cold-Resistant Metal Alloys

Scientists led by the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Oxford discovered that niobium-titanium-based alloys remain damage-tolerant at 20 kelvin or -253°C. Published in Nature in 2026, the study reveals a novel mechanism involving nanoscale twinning that prevents brittleness in body-centered cubic metals at these extreme temperatures, offering new strategies for designing materials for aerospace and energy sectors.