[Enzo03]

The problem until now with low-density materials such as aerogels and metallic foams has been their random structures. For instance, aerogels are derived from gels whose liquid components were replaced with gas, leaving behind solid tangles of microscopic-bead necklaces. The chaotic architecture of these substances makes them much weaker than conventional forms of their parent material.

Now scientists have devised ultra-lightweight, low-density metallic lattices with orderly structures. These possess higher levels of stiffness, strength and conductivity of conventional forms of their parent materials, findings detailed in the Nov. 18 issue of the journal Science.

I don't think I have to say anything about much potential this has or anything like that.  I kinda wonder why it hasn't been done sooner.

[redsniper]

Less dense than air

Are you sure? You mean this stuff would float away like a helium balloon?

[z64555]

Less dense than air

Are you sure? You mean this stuff would float away like a helium balloon?

Read through the article, and I got the impression that it should read "Slightly more dense than air"

[redsniper]

That... seems a lot more reasonable.

[Flipside]

Even if the metallic 'strands' were less-dense than air (something I massively doubt), the air-gaps would hold it down. The best you could hope for is 'as light as air', because air is an integral part of the structure Oddly enough, this means that the material as a whole would be even less 'dense' in space

Materials like this will prove incredibly useful in space where weight is money, and, with research, for things like Space Elevators, so cool stuff

[Ghostavo]

A metallic lattice of hair-thin pipes is now the lightest solid yet created — less dense than air, scientists revealed.

First sentence in the article. Although reading the UCI News Release I have no idea where they took that quote.

[Flipside]

In that case, those metallic strands must have a lower molecular density than the air around them. Interesting in and of itself

[Ghostavo]

Ok, air seems to have a density of 1.275 mg/cc at sea level and 15ºC, while the material has a density of 0.9 mg/cc.

Can someone double check this?

[MP-Ryan]

Ok, air seems to have a density of 1.275 mg/cc at sea level and 15ºC, while the material has a density of 0.9 mg/cc.

Can someone double check this?

I wonder if this is simply chemistry confusion...

If the sea level calculations are being used, then this makes sense.  Atmospheric pressure (and thus density of a gas) is higher at sea level, air at sea level contains quantities of water vapour in the molecular mix, and water has a density of 1 kg/L, meaning that air at sea level is denser than air elsewhere.

The very lightest substances in the world until now, aerogels, have the ethereal nickname "frozen smoke.” They can reach densities of 1 milligram per cubic centimeter, making them less dense than air at room temperature and sea level.

I can see a metal lattice structure being lighter than air at sea level, provided the volume that the metal occupies has a total mass less than the air molecular mixture it is replacing in the total volume of the substance.

By way of a completely unlikely example (in real world terms of what may be used in this substance), a Li2O molecule has less mass than a corresponding molecule of various nitrogen-oxygen gas molecules present in air.

[Mika]

So, they have discovered a featherweight alloy?

My colleagues will find this information very useful indeed!

Mika writes it down

[Kosh]

Even if the metallic 'strands' were less-dense than air (something I massively doubt), the air-gaps would hold it down. The best you could hope for is 'as light as air', because air is an integral part of the structure Oddly enough, this means that the material as a whole would be even less 'dense' in space

Materials like this will prove incredibly useful in space where weight is money, and, with research, for things like Space Elevators, so cool stuff

Well if it crumbles like tissue paper under even the slightest amount of pressure it wouldn't be that useful.

[Nuke]

aerogel aint new.

[Flipside]

The whole point about this particular material is that, unlike other aerogels, which were 'tangles' of metallic molecules, and had faults and brittleness inherent in them, this one actually has them arranged in a regular pattern, making it much stronger and less likely to shatter, that's why I said 'with research'

[deathfun]

Hey, what about Graphene?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2045825/Graphene-strong-sheet-clingfilm-support-elephant.html

[watsisname]

As I recall Aerogel was used for the Stardust mission.  It's really crazy stuff -- hold it in your hand and it's like nothing is there, yet compress it and it takes quite a bit of force to deform significantly.

There's also brands that can take ridiculously high temperatures without burning/melting/whatever.

[Bobboau]

this is an interesting concept, a lighter than air solid, it has interesting implications especially if we can mass produce it, the age of the air ship may be making a come back.

[The E]

this is an interesting concept, a lighter than air solid, it has interesting implications especially if we can mass produce it, the age of the air ship may be making a come back.

Except that's not what this is. It's very light, yes, but not lighter than air.

[Bobboau]

I was talking about the concept of it.