Aerogel is a lightweight solid being developed by a NASA assisted company. It has a remarkable range of potential uses from military armor enhancement to environmental cleanup. It can withstand a direct blast from 1kg of dynamite and protect against blowtorch of 1300C. It is being tested in everything from spacesuits to tennis rackets.

It is made by extracting water from a silica gel and replacing it with a gas like carbon dioxide, it appears as “frozen smoke.” The result is a porous insulation that can absorb things like oil and protect against hot and cold extremes. Future uses are limitless!

Tags: aerogel, frozen smoke, insulation, nasa