Physicists in United States have created a new metal by melting titanium and gold that is four times harder than pure titanium, reported BBC. The alloy is the hardest known metallic substance compatible with living tissues, scientists said.

Researchers believe the new metal will help create medical implants with a longer life. According to an article published in journal Science Advances, the discovery was made while the researchers were working on unconventional magnets made from titanium and gold.

Professor Emilia Morosan of Rice University in Houston and her team made the groundbreaking discovery, which will also have an impact on the drilling industry and the sporting goods industry, besides medical care. "The hardness of the substance, together with its higher biocompatibility, made it a next generation compound for substantively extending the lifetime of dental implants and replacement joints," Morosan said.