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The Amazing Properties of Aerogel

RideMax writes "We all know NASA is using a substance called 'aerogel' in the Stardust spacecraft to catch pieces of the Wild-2 comet. The NYT is running an article about some other amazing aerogel properties. My favorite quote: 'It's the lowest density of any solid, and it has the highest thermoinsulation properties. Though it would be very expensive, you could take a two- or three-bedroom house, insulate it with aerogel, and you could heat the house with a candle. But eventually the house would become too hot.'" We've looked at Aerogel before.

11 of 556 comments (clear)

  1. Really? by SargeZT · · Score: 3, Funny

    But does it's insulation properties beat that of Trellium-D?

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    And why did you staple the trout to the RAM?
  2. The house would warm up by ObviousGuy · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you goddamn kids would close the goddamn door!

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    I have been pwned because my /. password was too easy to guess.
  3. also known as...... by noelo · · Score: 5, Funny

    aka Vaporware... Made of 99.6 percent empty space, the little cube is indeed barely there, with a density one-hundredth that of the hand that holds it.

  4. Aerogel? by mrpuffypants · · Score: 3, Funny
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    Aerogel? From this point on this discussion will be rated NC-17...
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  5. Re:Can't wait for the weaponized form... by Lost+Penguin · · Score: 3, Funny

    Thats easy, just use it to bring space viruses from the tails of comets back to earth.
    Wait a minuite.....

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    I am the unwilling control for my Origin.
  6. Call me tight but... by POds · · Score: 4, Funny

    If Aerogel is that good at insulation, screw the candel, i'll just rely on the body heat of myself and others :/

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    Giving IE users a taste of their own medicine since 2005 - http://pods.-is-a-geek.net/
    1. Re:Call me tight but... by IamLarryboy · · Score: 4, Funny

      You miss the point. The candle is there to create the appropriate mood for said heating.

  7. Re:Too much by waitigetit · · Score: 5, Funny

    Diamond is usually made from carbon, same stuff graphite is made from, but in a different configuration. So, in theory, if you rub it against paper, it should leave a mark.

    I should have known this before I proposed to my girlfriend.

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    I could care less, but not without a lobotomy
  8. "Aerogel": A Ridiculous Liberal Myth by waitigetit · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Aerogel": A Ridiculous Liberal Myth

    It amazes me that so many allegedly "educated" people have fallen so quickly and so hard for a fraudulent fabrication of such laughable proportions. The very idea that a solid material happens to be so light, showing remarkable properties like near-perfect insulation, is ludicrous. Furthermore, it is an insult to common sense and a damnable affront to intellectual honesty and integrity. That people actually believe it is evidence that the liberals have wrested the last vestiges of control of our public school system from decent, God-fearing Americans.

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    I could care less, but not without a lobotomy
  9. Highest density? by IDigUNIX · · Score: 3, Funny

    Ok, so if aerogel has the lowest density of any solid, what has the highest density?

    Right now I'm thinking that it's either corporate America's CxO's, or perhaps whoever keeps watching all of these dumbass reality shows on tv.

  10. Re:more on aerogel by limekiller4 · · Score: 3, Funny

    From her bio:
    "[My] interests are: shuz, aerogel, Philip Treacy hats, make-up artist Topolino, and vinyl dipped pacifier nipples."

    This defies any sort of comment, so I won't even try.

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    My .02,
    Limekiller