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What Is the Lightest Material on Earth?

Published: Dec 10, 2013
Views: 5,480
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The world’s lightest material is carbon graphene aerogel, which is seven times lighter than air. Aerogels are a class of substances that are made by removing the liquid from a gel, and they are about 99.8% air, which gives it a holographic appearance. Carbon graphene aerogel is a substance made by drying out carbon gels, resulting in a substance that weighs 0.16 milligrams per cubic centimeter. The substance is able to absorb as much as 900 times its own weight, leading scientists to promote its possible use in cleaning up oil spills.

More about aerogels:

  • The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) used aerogels to protect the space equipment for its Mars explorations because the material could withstand extreme temperatures.
  • One of the earliest commercial uses of aerogel was as a thickening agent for napalm bombs during the 1940s.
  • Aerogels are so durable, it is estimated that just one block of the substance could withstand particles traveling six times faster than a bullet fired from a rifle.
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Allison Boelcke
By Allison Boelcke
Allison Boelcke, a digital marketing manager and freelance writer, helps businesses create compelling content to connect with their target markets and drive results. With a degree in English, she combines her writing skills with marketing expertise to craft engaging content that gets noticed and leads to website traffic and conversions. Her ability to understand and connect with target audiences makes her a valuable asset to any content creation team.

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Allison Boelcke
Allison Boelcke
Allison Boelcke, a digital marketing manager and freelance writer, helps businesses create compelling content to connect with their target markets and drive results. With a degree in English, she combines her writing skills with marketing expertise to craft engaging content that gets noticed and leads to website traffic and conversions. Her ability to understand and connect with target audiences makes her a valuable asset to any content creation team.
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