This year, Hassan Rouhani, took office after winning Iran’s presidential election. He is widely considered a moderate in Iranian politics.

Wendy Sherman told VOA that the United States believes President Rouhani when he says Iran does not want nuclear weapons. But she says that Iran now needs to take real steps to show that those words are meaningful.

The next talks on Iran’s nuclear program are to take place early next month.

I’m June Simms.

Nanotechnology Could Make Plastic More Air-Tight

From the world of international diplomacy, we turn our attention to the world of common materials. One of the most common materials is plastic.

Plastic is everywhere. The material can be used to manufacture excellent containers. But scientists are now able to make plastic even better. They are doing this with nanotechnology -- engineering that takes place on the level of atoms and molecules. Christopher Cruise has this report from VOA’s Greg Flakus.

Changsheng Xiang stretches a film containing graphene.

Graphene is a one-atom thick layer of the mineral graphite. This extremely thin material could have many uses, making some everyday things better.

Researchers in Texas are testing the material. Graphene can be part of a plastic composite, or combination, that makes containers airtight. This means it could improve containers for substances as dissimilar as natural gas and soft drinks.