Solar cells built on a flexible and thing lass substrate that could be rolled up into spools and spread out where and when they are needed. A glass panel roofing system that would support the load of a heavy snowfall and stand up to the impact of large hailstones. High strength very thin walled vacuum glass balloons, with greater lifting force than any hydrogen or helium filled balloon, which would permit the placing of scientific apparatus at permanent upper atmosphere locations. These are some of the practical applications that could be possible once the glass industry has accomplished its objective of developing products that are 50 times stronger than the glass it produces today. The applications are the themes of the winning papers in the year long Strength in Glass contest sponsored by the US-based Glass Manufacturing Industry Council, amongst others.
