Air-ogel

      Waterproof, fireproof, and translucent, the lightest solid known on planet earth is now structurally sound enough to support two thousand times its own weight. One cubic inch of this substance, collapsed, covers a football field. Comprised of ninety-nine percent air, expertly engineered “frozen clouds” have taken over NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
     Born during a bet between two chemists one hundred years prior, sheets of this material now grace the Pentagon. Previously employed to construct Cerenkov detectors in particle physics, aerogel has been tasked with retrieving interstellar cosmic dust. Nanostructured material in lattice formation trap thermal energy from escaping.
    From next-gen spacesuits to biocompatible implants, its potential for cryogenic fluid storage, supercapacitors, and insulating rocket fuel have secured its standing in the scientific community. Lighter than glass, newly reinforced polymer-based formulas are able to withstand the force of bullets.
     Playing a crucial role in fusion fuel experiments, it also shows future promise in the field of nuclear experimentation as a shield to protect from radioactive waste. As a longtime personal friend and schoolmate of Space Operations Officer Robert Tilli, honored member of the U.S. Space Force Division, I eagerly anticipate applications in the cosmos. A miracle in its own right, aerogel may just be the answer.