On April 8th 1982 Dr Shechtman fired a beam of electrons at a slice of aluminium-manganese alloy, in order to understand its crystal structure.

ECONOMIST: The 2011 Nobel prizes

In addition to crystal white bodypanels the electric drive design package comprises white alloy rims, a green tridion cell, green mirror caps and numerous green accents in the interior which form an attractive contrast to the black seats.

ENGADGET: Third generation Smart Fortwo ditches Tesla powertrain, gains two wheeled cousin