10 Oil Spills / 2014
SOLUTION SPOTLIGHT
A low-density, super-strong aerogel made of carbon nanotubes was created by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania. This new material is lighter than air, but is capable of absorbing up to 900 times its own weight. Its potential success is due to the strength, lightness, and heat-insulating properties of aerogels that is combined with the electrical conductivity of nanotubes. NASA has already used the insulating capability of aerogels to capture stardust in orbit, and insulate the Mars rover.