Scientist creates dark matter in the lab!
No, not that dark matter, but rather the darkest known material, about four times darker than the previous record holder. (Via PhysOrg.)
It’s a carpet of carbon nanotubes that only reflects 0.045 percent light, making it, as the Houston Chronicle puts it, “100 times darker than a black-painted Corvette,” (which seems like a fairly imprecise measurement standard, but never mind). The previous darkest known material was a nickel and phosphorus alloy that reflected about 0.16 percent of light.
The material’s ability to absorb light could be beneficial to solar panels and, since it minimizes the scattering of light, it could also benefit telescope manufacturers.
It also minimizes the scattering of light, making it a potential boon to telescope manufacturers.
(And, yes, you’re absolutely right: I posted this just so I could use that headline. The photo was a bonus.)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons.)
January 14th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
‘“100 times darker than a black-painted Corvette,” (which seems like a fairly imprecise measurement standard, but never mind).’
Would that give it a darkness measurement of one centi-corvette, or a hecto-corvette …
January 15th, 2008 at 3:06 am
““100 times darker than a black-painted Corvette,” (which seems like a fairly imprecise measurement standard, but never mind).”
That’s cause you’re not from America, boy. Yee-haw and all that rubbish.
January 15th, 2008 at 5:16 am
Ahem. Born in New Mexico, started school in Texas, went to university in Arkansas, y’all.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Soon we can have fuligin capes! (Referring to Book of the New Sun, of course.)