Icefear

“A MIRACLE material for the 21st century could protect your home against bomb blasts, mop up oil spillages and even help man to fly to Mars.

Aerogel, one of the world’s lightest solids, can withstand a direct blast of 1kg of dynamite and protect against heat from a blowtorch at more than 1,300C.

Scientists are working to discover new applications for the substance, ranging from the next generation of tennis rackets to super-insulated space suits for a manned mission to Mars.”

Scientists hail ‘frozen smoke’ as material that will change world - Times Online

Pretty sweet stuff eh? If it could be developed further and be cost-effectively created, it could be the substance of the future. Aerogel is the lightest and lowest-density solid known yet is very durable and its efficiency seems unsurpassed. Though it is 99.8% air, it can be used for extreme conditions and is optimal for space travel and harsh environments.

FRYandBENDER

Wow, that stuff is insane.

Good find.

__________________
Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish. I am not a tool for their use. I am not a servant of their needs. I am not a bandage for their wounds. I am not a sacrifice on their altars. ... I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them. I ask no one to live for me, nor do I live for others. I covet no mans soul, nor is my soul theirs to covet.

Ayn Rand, Anthem.

Common insult examples and how to avoid them

Gedron

Ya, NASA used it to collect stardust off a meteor. It truly is some amazing stuff. I've always thought they should make the hulls of ships out of it if someone can find a better way of sculpting it so it isn't quite so brittle.

Diligent_d

The space applications for this stuff excites me the most.