Article

2007-08-20 Science

Scientists hail frozen smoke as material that will change world

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by gorb 2007-08-20 02:15|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top

#1 I've seen pics of aerogel floating on nitrogen. It's roughly the same density as air, so it's actually lighter than pure nitrogen.

Very cool stuff, particularly if it can be made cheap and strong.

Posted by Rob Crawford">Rob Crawford 2007-08-20 09:30|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/] 2007-08-20 09:30|| Front Page Top

Posted by Boss Craising2882 2007-08-20 09:33|| 2007-08-20 09:33|| Front Page Top

#3 They have samples of this stuff to play with at the local tech museum. It's really odd to place something in the palm of your hand and barely be able to detect its presence. As is so often the case with new technology, it is no longer a matter of design improvements but the evolution of novel materials and their applications.

I'd love to see if they can push this stuff to optical clarity. Imagine ultra-lightweight giant lenses for portable telescopes and photographic purposes.

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2007-08-20 10:41|| 2007-08-20 10:41|| Front Page Top

#4 One killer app for this could be in home construction. That is, in the extreme, a foundation, a metal frame, the equivalent of thin advanced ceramic modular floor, walls and roof with a layer of aerogel in them, with solar panels on the roof to power cooling and heating.

Advanced ceramic is far lighter, stronger and harder than concrete, and the aerogel would act both as insulation and soundproofing.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-08-20 11:14|| 2007-08-20 11:14|| Front Page Top

#5 I want to use it to make floaties for my 3 year old.

Posted by Iblis">Iblis 2007-08-20 12:51|| 2007-08-20 12:51|| Front Page Top

#6 Finally something to keep my beer cold all day.

Posted by ed 2007-08-20 14:00|| 2007-08-20 14:00|| Front Page Top

#7 Can you smoke it?

Posted by Shinetch tse Tung7821 2007-08-20 16:37|| 2007-08-20 16:37|| Front Page Top

#8 I wonder if it could be used in vehicle or aircraft applications. Minimal weight combined with strength is a great combination.

Dontcha love how technology introduces major paradigm shifts such that the prevailing wisdom of the day (yes, I'm talking about your idiot ass AlGore) becomes even more irrelevant. Any future prediction that is based on straight line projection should be dismissed out of hand every time.

Posted by remoteman 2007-08-20 16:55|| 2007-08-20 16:55|| Front Page Top

23:58 Mike N.
23:51 Old Patriot
23:48 Mike N.
23:23 Zenster
23:23 ed
23:21 ed
23:02 Zenster
22:55 Mike N.
22:52 WTF
22:52 Mike N.
22:50 Mike N.
22:42 Frank G
22:40 Frank G
22:32 Frank G
22:31 gromgoru
22:23 gromgoru
22:07 Phinater Thraviger
22:06 Zenster
22:02 Zenster
21:45 Gary and the Samoyeds
21:43 Gary and the Samoyeds
21:41 Zenster
21:37 Zenster
21:37 Gary and the Samoyeds