Wednesday, November 4, 2026Updated every morning at 5:30 AM ET
NanotechProgress

Aerogel

A solid that is mostly air, held up by a web of nano-sized strands.

An aerogel is made by drying a gel without collapsing its structure, leaving a solid that is mostly air. Heat struggles to cross it, so aerogels make thin, light insulation, including heat barriers in electric car batteries.

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Technologies we track

  • Silica aerogelsStep 4 · On saleAerogels are among the lightest solids ever made.