The formula for transparent aluminum
Transparent aluminium is a construction material much stonger and much lighter than its predecessor, plexiglass. A 1-inch thick sheet of transparent aluminum, measuring 60' x 10', is capable of withstanding the pressure of 18,000 cubic feet of water, which can be used in place of a 6-inch thick sheet of plexiglass.
Dr. Nichols of the San Francisco based Plexicorp, acquired the formula for transparent aluminum in 1986 from a mysterious engineer from Edinburgh, known as "Professor Scott". In exchange for the formula, Dr. Nichols provided enough plexiglass to "Professor Scott" to construct a giant whale-tank in the cargo hold of the stolen Klingon Bird of Prey. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
In an alternate timeline, transparent aluminum was invented a number of years past 1986.
- According to an early draft of Star Trek IV, transparent aluminum was invented in the mid-2130s.
The windows of the Enterprise-D are made of Transparent aluminum. In 2367 when an anomaly caused a hull breach in the observation lounge, Data scanned the transparent aluminum in the windows, and found no fractures. (TNG: "In Theory")