Graphene is one of the most remarkable materials ever discovered – a nearly two-dimensional sheet of carbon just one atom thick, arranged in a honeycomb lattice. It’s so thin that scientists call it a two-dimensional material, yet it’s stronger and more conductive than almost anything we’ve seen before.
Graphene was first isolated in 2004, and since then it has been the focus of intense international research and innovation efforts, including in Europe’s major Graphene Flagship programme – one of the most ambitious science initiatives ever funded.
Graphene’s combination of properties makes it stand out:
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Extremely strong – about 200 times stronger than steel by weight.
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Highly conductive – excellent at carrying electricity and heat.
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Ultra-thin and lightweight – essentially a single layer of carbon atoms.
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Flexible and chemical reactive – works well in composites or engineered materials.
These properties make graphene ideal for advanced technologies across many fields – in fact you might be really surprised as to what its used for.
Graphene isn’t just a lab curiosity – it’s already being used or explored in real-world applications such as:
- Electronics: Improving flexible displays, high-speed circuits and sensors.
- Energy: Enhancing batteries and supercapacitors for faster charging and greater capacity.
- Transport: Making stronger, lighter composites for cars, aircraft and materials.
- Water and air filtration: Graphene membranes can filter impurities at a molecular level.
- Healthcare and biotech: Used in biosensors, drug-delivery systems, medical implants and future diagnostic tools.
This adaptability is why graphene is often called a ‘wonder material’ – it’s not just one thing, but a platform for innovation.
As graphene moves from the laboratory into more everyday uses, scientists are also studying its health and safety implications – especially because it belongs to a family of materials known as graphene-family nanomaterials (GFNs), which behave differently depending on their shape and chemistry.
However, not all studies say there’s no risk. Some research suggests graphene derivatives or poorly produced materials – especially very small fragments that can enter cells – might interact with biological systems in complex ways, potentially generating oxidative stress or cell effects under certain conditions.
Experts generally agree that different forms of graphene behave differently, and careful evaluation of each specific use – including exposure pathways like inhalation, ingestion or skin contact – is essential before judging overall safety.
Despite the growing body of research suggesting graphene can be used safely when properly designed and regulated, some people have raised concerns about its potential health impacts. These concerns often stem from a broader unease about nanomaterials – substances so small they can interact with the body at a cellular level – and from questions about how new technologies are introduced faster than public understanding can keep pace.
Exhausted by all the terms? we were too which is why we ae deep diving more into science and technology in 2026 so our whanau of readers and listeners can better understand it all!
For some, the concern is about long-term exposure, particularly if graphene particles were to be inhaled, ingested, or used in medical or consumer products without adequate oversight. Others worry about environmental accumulation, workplace safety during manufacturing, or whether all forms of graphene are being treated as equal when, in reality, they can behave very differently depending on how they are produced and used.
Experts stress that these questions are not unreasonable – asking how new materials affect human health and the environment is a necessary part of responsible innovation. At the same time, they caution against treating graphene as a single, uniform substance, noting that risk depends on form, dose, exposure pathway, and context.
In the coming weeks, Radio Waatea will explore these concerns further, speaking directly with scientists, health experts and researchers working in this field. Our aim is to separate evidence from speculation, explain what is known, what is still being studied, and how safety decisions are made – so listeners can be informed, not alarmed.
Radio Waatea has chosen to explore the kōrero around graphene because whānau are increasingly asking questions about the real-world impacts of emerging technologies – not in abstract scientific terms, but in relation to what we use, consume, and are exposed to every day.
From health and medicine to electronics, clothing, water filtration and food packaging, new materials like graphene are moving from laboratories into everyday products at pace. With that comes curiosity, concern, and a desire for clear, trustworthy information – especially in communities that have historically experienced decisions being made about them rather than with them.
Whānau are not anti-science. They are pro-understanding.
The interest we are hearing is not driven by fear, but by a need to understand how innovation intersects with hauora, taiao, safety, and long-term wellbeing. Questions about exposure, regulation, and transparency are reasonable – particularly when history shows Māori communities have often borne disproportionate risk when new technologies or substances are introduced without full consultation.
Radio Waatea’s role is to create space for informed, balanced kōrero. Over the coming weeks, we will speak directly with scientists, health experts, and researchers to explore what is known about graphene, what is still being studied, and how decisions around safety and use are made.
Our aim is simple:
to ensure whānau are informed, empowered, and part of the conversation about the world we are living in – and the future we are shaping together.
