The world's chefs could soon be using wooden knives. This may seem illogical, but scientists have created a wooden knife that is three times sharper than stainless steel knives. Researcher Teng Li said wooden knives would add to the range of wooden tools currently found in our kitchens. He said: "We have many wooden things that we use for a very long time, like a cutting board, chopsticks, or a rolling pin. Our knives can also be used many times."

Scientists strengthened their wood by boosting the cellulose it contains. Cellulose is the main constituent of wood. It has a higher strength to density ratio than steel. The new material is hard enough to effortlessly slice through a tough steak. Wooden knives are also environmentally friendly. They could end our dependence on plastic cutlery. The scientists have also developed wooden nails. These could help the building industry because they will not rust.