Imagine cutting a sheet of wood with nothing more than a utility knife. That's balsa for you. You may remember this ultralight-weight wood from model plane kits in childhood. Bring this material out ...

DETROIT -- The 2006 Corvette Z06, the fastest 'Vette ever built, gets its speed from balsa wood. OK, maybe that understates the value of its V-8 and light body, but when building a car that goes from ...