In this Veritasium video, Derek Muller learns about ultralight silica aerogels. How was this microporous material invented? Why is it such a good thermal insulator? And how is it like a portable sunset?
Aerogels are space-age wonders. At 99.8% air, they’re the world’s lightest/least dense solids, and yet they’re also brilliant for thermal insulation. They’ve been used on NASA’s Mars rovers and the Stardust comet particle-capturing capsule. Plus, they can almost protect a chocolate bunny from melting.
Related reading: Graphene aerogels, the lightest of the aerogels.
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