Metallurgists have long sought to sit down at a computer, key in the elemental formulation for a new alloy, see how it works on the screen and then go into the lab to mix up a batch.

• 长久以来，冶金学家希望他们只要坐在电脑前面，输入某种新合金的配方，看著电脑在萤幕上秀出结果，然后就可以直接进实验室，混合出一堆合金来。