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Rated: E · Book · Educational · #2105953

One hundred facts that are interesting but ultimately useless.

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#902728 added January 20, 2017 at 3:10am
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The Blackest Black
The Blackest Black
- physics / technology -

​​​The title of "blackest substance made by humans" is disputed.

The main contender is formed of manufactured nanoparticles called "dark chamaleon dimers". Discovered in 2015, the substance absorbs nearly 99% of all visible light, as well as a partial range of infrared light.

The previous title-holder is "vantablack", which is made from arrays of carbon nanotubes. While vantablack can potentially trap more light than chamaleon dimers (up to 99.965%), its effectiveness changes depending on the angle at which it is viewed.

Both materials could be potentially used to minimize ​light interference in telescopes and infrared cameras, increase efficiency of concentrated solar power, and mask heat signatures as thermal camouflage.


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