Aerogel aka "Frozen Smoke"

read the full storyhere

pretty much a silicon based gel that is 1,000 less denser then glass,and it is being use to get stuff from comets,it is pretty amazing.
the aerogel is also 99.8% air.

heres some pics:



aerogel holding a brick


aerogel holding up crayons



aerogel being held by a jpl scientist

Definitely some amazing stuff. I don't see why it has taken so long to catch on. Hopefully, it won't be too much longer before it becomes more widespread, which will make it more affordable. It could save consumers billions when it hits the market at reasonable prices.

Originally posted by daboga75
Definitely some amazing stuff. I don't see why it has taken so long to catch on. Hopefully, it won't be too much longer before it becomes more widespread, which will make it more affordable. It could save consumers billions when it hits the market at reasonable prices.

hmm..what would we mainly use it for besides insulation?

I'll tell you this... it sure does look cool!

But as they say at the NASA site, it's too expensive to produce for anything but that which requires perfection. So I don't quite expect to be driving around in my near-invisibile car, or insulate my home with it any time soon.

Still... it looks SO COOL! I mean... it's barely even there, LITERALLY!

An old aerogel link on ATS from 2002 :

www.abovetopsecret.com...

and another

www.abovetopsecret.com...

can you touch it

would be kewl heh

guess u can ....www.jpl.nasa.gov...
edit is added link with answer

[edit on 30-1-2006 by Lamagraa]

it is neat but its the farthest from smoke you can get lol
smoke is solid particles suspended in a gas while aerogels are a gas suspended in a solid...its a kind of crematic it is very usefull in despencing heat and use in heat barriers. i beleve a sort of aerogel is used in heat shielding on the space shuttle. though very cool to look at it is EXTREMLY expencive to make

Originally posted by engenerQ
while aerogels are a gas suspended in a solid..

Just like shaving foam


It's pretty cool how well it insulates though. The image with the crayons shows that.

Originally posted by engenerQ
it is neat but its the farthest from smoke you can get lol
smoke is solid particles suspended in a gas while aerogels are a gas suspended in a solid...its a kind of crematic it is very usefull in despencing heat and use in heat barriers. i beleve a sort of aerogel is used in heat shielding on the space shuttle. though very cool to look at it is EXTREMLY expencive to make

Uhh that's why they call it "Frozen Smoke" or "Solid Smoke"