InventWood, a US-based company, has developed Superwood, a modified wood product reportedly stronger than steel and even capable of stopping a bullet, offering a new path for sustainable and resilient construction materials.

• In lab tests, a bullet-like projectile fired from a gas gun failed to penetrate Superwood, while blasting through natural wood.
• Alex Lau, co-founder and executive chairman of InventWood, states the product significantly strengthens wood by treating it with chemicals to remove lignin and compressing its volume by around 80%.
• The development offers a promising alternative to high-emission materials like concrete, with potential applications ranging from durable external cladding to military shelters, and can be made from rapidly renewable sources like bamboo in as little as three to four years.