A scientist, a crisis, and a crazy idea
Back in 2001, William Niedermeyer, a physicist with a knack for solving tough problems, hit a roadblock. The events of 9/11 paused his doctoral studies in high-energy physics at the University of Utah, but they also lit a spark. Intrigued by the potential of metamaterial to change medicine, energy, and more, Niedermeyer dove in, only to find the field riddled with issues: inconsistent material sizes, agglomerating messes, and costs that could make a rocket scientist cry. Undeterred, he started a small lab in Salt Lake City with proceeds from his first company, determined to outsmart these challenges. Picture a lone scientist, surrounded by soda cans, candy wrappers, and dreams, tinkering with laser equipment from the Star Wars program...Because why not aim for the stars?