Original subtitles

--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: A RUBBER TREE'S LIFE-SPAN

FOR NATURAL RUBBER PRODUCTION IS LIMITED TO ABOUT 25 YEARS.

BUT MAKING TOYS OUT OF THEIR WOOD

GIVES UNPRODUCTIVE TREES A SECOND LIFE.

THIS IDEA COMES FROM SOUTHEASTERN ASIA,

HOME TO MOST OF THE RUBBER AND LATEX PRODUCTION WORLDWIDE.

THIS COMPANY, BASED IN THAILAND,

MANUFACTURES TOYS SUCH AS THIS SERIES

OF ANIMAL-SHAPED RACERS MADE OF LOCALLY FARMED RUBBERWOOD.

THEY BUY OLD TREES

THAT HAVE EXCEEDED THEIR PRODUCTIVE LIFE.

A WORKER FEEDS LUMBER THROUGH A WOOD-ROUNDING MACHINE.

THE MACHINE DRIVES THE LOG THROUGH A MILL

AND TURNS IT INTO A ROD.

THE WORKER PLACES THE ROD ON A TRAY

ALONGSIDE OTHER PIECES READY FOR CUTTING.

A CUTTING MACHINE AUTOMATICALLY MATCHES THE LENGTH OF THE RODS

WHILE A ROUND SAW CUTS OUT BLANKS,

WHICH ACCUMULATE IN A CRATE.

A ROUTER REMOVES THE SHARP EDGES ON THE BLANKS.

STACKED IN A FEEDER TUBE,

THE BLANKS DROP DOWN ONE BY ONE ON THE ROUTER TABLE.

AN AUTOMATED FEEDING MECHANISM

PUSHES EACH BLANK AGAINST THE ROUTER HEAD.

THE ROUTER BLADE BITES

INTO THE BLANK AND TRIMS OFF THE EDGE,

LEAVING THE PIECES READY FOR SANDING.

AT ANOTHER STATION, A LATHE

TURNS SPHERICAL SHAPES OUT OF THE WOOD.

SEVERAL BLADES MOVE IN SEQUENCE TO FORM THE PIECE.

WHEN A NEW LENGTH OF WOOD COMES THROUGH,

THE FRONT BLADE MOVES IN.

ONCE IT BACKS AWAY,

ANOTHER SET OF BLADES SHAPES THE PIECE LATERALLY

BEFORE A CUTTER BLADE SEPARATES IT FROM THE ROD.

A WORKER NOW POURS A NONTOXIC, WATER-BASED PAINT

OVER THE SANDED BLANKS.

HE TRANSFERS THE BATCH INTO A TUMBLING MACHINE.

THE TUMBLING PROCESS WILL EVEN OUT THE COLOR

AND DRAIN THE EXTRA PAINT TO ACCELERATE DRYING.

THE WORKER CLOSES AND SECURES THE LID OF THE TUMBLER

BEFORE HE STARTS THE MACHINE.

THE FACILITY CAN SIMULTANEOUSLY PROCESS 40 BATCHES

OF PAINTED PARTS IN 30 MINUTES.

THE PAINTED PARTS NOW GO TO A PAD PRINTER.

AN AUTOMATED ARM FEEDS THE PARTS TO THE PRINTER,

WHICH STAMPS EACH PIECE WITH A NONTOXIC PAINT.

A WORKER USES A TABLE SAW

TO GROOVE ANOTHER SET OF PAINTED PARTS.

THE CUSTOM-MADE JIG ENSURES THAT THE CUT IS STRAIGHT AND EVEN

AND THAT THE BLADE MAKES ONLY A NARROW

AND SHALLOW GROOVE IN THE WOOD.

THE WORKER PLACES THE GROOVED PART

ON A JIG AND BORES A HOLE INTO THE PIECE WITH A DRILL.

THE MACHINED PIECE GOES TO ANOTHER PAD PRINTER.

THE PAD PICKS UP PAINT FROM A TRAY

AND TRANSFERS IT TO THE WOOD.

THIS PROCESS, CALLED TAMPOGRAPHY, ALLOWS THE PRINTER

TO REPRODUCE A DESIGN ON AN IRREGULAR SURFACE,

SUCH AS THIS WOOD PIECE.

THE PRINTED PARTS DRY AT ROOM TEMPERATURE.

AS A LAST PAD PRINTER PAINTS TWO DOTS ON THE WOOD,

THE FACE OF THE ANIMAL RACER SLOWLY TAKES SHAPE.

THIS RED-COLORED POWDER IS PROCESSED RUBBERWOOD SAWDUST

ENTIRELY RECYCLED FROM THE MACHINING OPERATIONS.

A WORKER FILLS MOLDS WITH THE REPROCESSED SAWDUST

AND PREPARES THEM FOR CASTING.

THE MACHINE COMPRESSES THE SAWDUST IN A DIE

AND TURNS IT INTO A SOLID

AND COMPACT MATERIAL CALLED PLANWOOD.

A WORKER STARTS ASSEMBLING THE PLANWOOD PIECES

TO FORM THE BODY OF THE RACERS.

SHE APPLIES A THIN COAT

OF NONTOXIC, FORMALDEHYDE-FREE GLUE

AND PRESSES TWO CORRESPONDING PLANWOOD PIECES TOGETHER.

SHE REMOVES THE EXCESS GLUE WITH HER FINGER

BEFORE SHE HAMMERS A DOWEL

INTO THE ASSEMBLED PLANWOOD BODY.

TO FINISH THE HEAD OF THE RACER,

SHE INSERTS A FELT PIECE INTO THE GROOVE

MACHINED ON TOP AND PRESSES THE HEAD

INTO THE RACER'S BODY USING A PNEUMATIC PRESS.

THE WORKER THEN DRIVES THE AXLES

THROUGH HOLES IN THE PLANWOOD ASSEMBLY.

SHE TAKES PAINTED AND PAD-PRINTED WHEELS

AND APPLIES A DROP OF FAST-HARDENING GLUE

INSIDE EACH WHEEL HUB.

SHE THEN HAMMERS THE WHEELS INTO THE AXLES

AND TAKES THE ASSEMBLED TOY

TO A CUSTOMIZED MACHINE DESIGNED

TO PRESS THE WHEELS FIRMLY INTO THE AXLES.

THIS FINISHED CHICKEN RACER IS ONE OF A WIDE VARIETY

OF RUBBERWOOD TOYS

MANUFACTURED WITH ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY PROCESSES

AND MATERIALS.

Narrator: WHETHER YOUR PREFERRED SHADE IS LIGHT, MEDIUM, OR DARK,

OWNING A RELIABLE ELECTRIC TOASTER THAT EVENLY HEATS

AND BROWNS BOTH SIDES OF YOUR BREAD JUST THE WAY

YOU LIKE IT IS ONE OF LIFE'S SMALL PLEASURES.

AND IF THAT TOASTER ADDS SOME STYLE TO YOUR KITCHEN,

ALL THE BETTER.

MAKING RETRO-STYLE TOASTERS IS THIS BRITISH COMPANY'S

BREAD AND BUTTER.

WHILE SOME OF ITS MODELS ARE NEW DESIGNS

IN A VINTAGE STYLE,

THIS ONE IS AUTHENTICALLY RETRO,

IN CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION SINCE THE 1960s.

THE MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT, HOWEVER, IS MODERN.

A COMPUTER-GUIDED LASER CUTTER CUTS OUT MANY COMPONENTS

FROM SHEET STEEL COATED WITH ZINC FOR CORROSION RESISTANCE.

THEY STAMP THE COMPANY LOGO

AND THEN USE THE SAME PRESS

TO BEGIN FORMING A RECTANGULAR BOX.

THEY BEND THREE SIDES ON THIS PRESS...

THEN BEND THE FOURTH

ON A MACHINE CALLED A BOX FOLDER.

THEY RIVET THE BODY CLOSED, THEN SPRAY ON A THICK LAYER

OF PAINT POWDER KNOWN AS POWDER COAT.

THEN, THEY RUN THE BODY THROUGH A TUNNEL OVEN

FOR 10 MINUTES TO BAKE THE FINISH.

THE COMPUTER-GUIDED LASER CUTTER ALSO

CUTS OUT SEVERAL TOASTER TOPS

FROM A SHEET OF STAINLESS STEEL.

THIS MODEL IS A FOUR-SLICE TOASTER,

SO THE MACHINE CUTS FOUR SLOTS PER TOP.

TO MAKE THE MANUAL BREAD EJECTOR THAT POPS UP THE HOT TOAST,

THEY WELD STEEL STRIPS TO A ROUND STEEL BAR.

MOVING THE TOASTER'S EJECTOR KNOB LIFTS THIS BAR,

RAISING THE TOP OF THE TOAST OUT OF THE SLOT.

THEY BEND THE STRIPS,

CREATING A CRADLE TO STABILIZE THE BREAD

SO THAT IT DOESN'T WOBBLE AND GET CAUGHT

WHILE MOVING UP AND DOWN WITHIN THE SLOT.

THIS MACHINE MAKES THE TOASTER'S GUARD WIRES

OUT OF COPPER-COATED STEEL.

THE GUARD WIRES ARE BARRIERS THAT PREVENT THE BREAD

FROM TOUCHING THE TOASTER'S HEATING ELEMENTS.

THE MACHINE FIRST WELDS CUT HORIZONTAL WIRES

TO FOUR CONTINUOUS VERTICAL ONES.

THEN, A BLADE CHOPS THE VERTICAL WIRES

EVERY 12 INCHES, PRODUCING TWO SIDE-BY-SIDE GUARD WIRES.

WORKERS CUT THEM APART ON A GUILLOTINE, THEN,

WITH A HAND PRESS, FOLD OVER THE TOP OF EACH ONE.

THIS PREVENTS THE BREAD

FROM CATCHING ON THE TOP OF THE GUARD WIRES.

NOW THEY TAKE THE TOASTING COMPARTMENT

AND INSERT THE EIGHT GUARD WIRES,

ONE FOR EACH SIDE OF THE FOUR BREAD SLOTS.

THEN, THEY INSTALL THE BREAD EJECTOR.

NEXT, THE HEATING ELEMENTS.

BEING A HIGH-END TOASTER,

THE ELEMENTS ARE SHEETS OF PURE MICA,

A MINERAL THAT'S HEAT-RESISTANT UP TO 1,800 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

THEY CONNECT THEM WITH

ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE COPPER LINKS.

THEY MOUNT THE SWITCH

THAT SELECTS THE NUMBER OF BREAD SLICES TO TOAST.

THEN, THEY INSTALL A RED NEON LIGHT THAT ILLUMINATES

WHEN YOU START THE TOASTER AND TURNS OFF

WHEN THE TOAST TIME HAS ELAPSED.

THE TIMER SWITCH HAS A BELL

THAT SOUNDS WHEN THE TOAST TIME IS UP,

AT WHICH POINT THE SWITCH CUTS THE CURRENT TO THE ELEMENTS.

THEY ATTACH THE DIALS FOR THE SLICE SELECTOR

AND TIMER SWITCHES

AND CONNECT THEIR WIRES TO THE MAIN POWER CORD.

THEN, THEY PLACE THE TOASTER COMPARTMENT

INTO THE BODY AND SCREW ON

THE TOASTER'S STAINLESS STEEL TOP,

THE PROTECTIVE FILM NOW REMOVED.

THEY FLIP THE TOASTER UPSIDE DOWN

AND WIRE UP THE ELEMENTS.

THEY INSTALL THE EJECTOR KNOB,

POSITIONING ITS SPRING AGAINST THE BREAD EJECTOR.

WHEN THE BELL RINGS, INDICATING YOUR TOAST IS READY,

YOU MOVE THE KNOB TO RAISE AND RETRIEVE YOUR SLICES.

A TECHNICIAN TESTS THE TOASTER THOROUGHLY, ENSURING

THAT ALL OF THE ELEMENTS HEAT TO THE CORRECT TEMPERATURE,

THAT ONLY THE SELECTED SLOTS HEAT UP,

THAT THE TIMER IS ACCURATE,

AND THAT THE BELL RINGS WHEN THE SELECTED TIME ELAPSES.

THEY INSTALL THE REMOVABLE CRUMB TRAY,

THEN CLOSE UP THE BOTTOM OF THE TOASTER

WITH A VENTILATED BASE PLATE.

NYLON FEET ELEVATE THE TOASTER FOR VENTILATION

AND TO PREVENT THE SCREWS ATTACHING THE BASE

FROM SCRATCHING YOUR KITCHEN COUNTER.

THE STYLE MAY BE RETRO,

BUT THIS 1960s-DESIGN TOASTER WAS AHEAD OF ITS TIME

WITH ITS ENERGY-SAVING SLICE-SELECTOR FEATURE

THAT STOPS THE TOASTER'S EMPTY SLOTS

FROM HEATING UP UNNECESSARILY.

Narrator: LABORATORY FURNACES

ARE SMALL BUT POWERFUL APPLIANCES.

THEY CAN REACH TEMPERATURES

OF 3,000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR MORE.

THESE INCREDIBLE FURNACES ARE OFTEN USED TO TEST

THE QUALITY OF THINGS LIKE FUEL OIL, GREASES, COAL,

AND TO CONFIRM THE STRENGTH OF STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.

EXPOSED TO THE RED-HOT INTENSITY OF A LABORATORY FURNACE,

THIS PIECE OF STEEL

SHOULD ENDURE AND EVEN BE STRENGTHENED BY THE EXPOSURE.

IT'S THE ULTIMATE TEST OF THE STEEL'S INTEGRITY.

MAKING A LABORATORY FURNACE STARTS WITH THIS LASER CUTTER.

IT CARVES OUT STEEL PANELS FOR THE LOWER CABINET.

A PRESS BRAKE FOLDS THE PANELS WITH PRECISION

TO MAKE THREE-SIDED PIECES OF CABINETRY.

A WORKER STACKS THEM UP.

THE NEXT WORKER APPLIES A POWDER COAT

TO THE METAL PARTS USING A COMPRESSED-AIR SPRAYER.

WHEN BAKED ON, THE POWDER FORMS A TOUGH THERMOPLASTIC SKIN.

AT THE NEXT STATION, A WORKER

TUCKS THE END OF AN IRON ALLOY WIRE

INTO A LATHE.

AS THE LATHE SPINS,

IT WINDS THE WIRE AROUND A MANDREL,

PRODUCING A TIGHT COIL.

THIS COILED WIRE WILL SERVE

AS ONE OF THE FURNACE'S TWO HEATING ELEMENTS.

AFTER STRETCHING THE COIL TO WIDEN THE GAPS

AND BENDING IT TO CREATE PARALLEL ROWS,

THE TECHNICIAN ATTACHES ELECTRICAL CLIPS.

HE FLIPS A SWITCH.

AND ELECTRICITY SURGES THROUGH THE COIL.

THIS RELIEVES STRESSES IN THE METAL CAUSED

BY THE WINDING AND BENDING.

HE NOW INSERTS TWO COILS INTO THE RIDGES OF THE MOLD.

HE TRANSFERS IT TO A VAT FILLED WITH A CERAMIC FIBER MIXTURE.

A POWERFUL VACUUM PUMP PULLS THE MIXTURE INTO THE MOLD,

FILLING ALL THE CREVICES.

THE VACUUM THEN DRAWS OUT THE MOISTURE.

THE COILS ARE NOW EMBEDDED IN A CERAMIC CAKE.

THIS CAKE BAKES IN AN OVEN OVERNIGHT

AND SOLIDIFIES,

ENCASING AND INSULATING THE HEATING COILS.

A WORKER CUTS THE SOLID CERAMIC-FIBER BLOCK IN TWO,

CREATING TWO SEPARATE HEATING MODULES.

HE TRIMS THEM SO THEY FIT NEATLY IN THE FURNACE CHAMBER.

A COMPUTERIZED ROUTER CUTS OUT OTHER INSULATION PIECES

TO FIT THE REST OF THE FURNACE CHAMBER.

THIS CERAMIC BRICK IS A THRESHOLD INSULATOR.

THIS PIECE IS A SURROUND FOR THE FURNACE DOOR.

A TEAM NOW PUTS ALL THE CERAMIC FIBER PIECES TOGETHER

IN A METAL FRAMEWORK.

THE HEATING ELEMENT BLOCKS FORM THE SIDES

OF THE FURNACE CHAMBER.

THEY THREAD THE WIRES FROM THE COILS

THROUGH THE BACK PANEL.

THEY INSERT THE SIDE AND BACK PANELS

IN THE FRAMEWORK.

THEY ASSEMBLE THE OTHER CERAMIC FIBER PARTS

TO FORM AN INSULATED CHAMBER.

THEY SCREW THE FRAMEWORK TIGHT,

AND THIS NESTLES THE CERAMIC-FIBER WALLS

MORE CLOSELY TOGETHER.

THEY TUCK THE THRESHOLD INSULATOR INTO PLACE,

COMPLETING THE LABORATORY FURNACE'S HEATED CHAMBER.

A TECHNICIAN NOW PLACES THE FURNACE'S

ELECTRIC HEATING CONTROL PANEL IN THE LOWER CABINET.

HE FASTENS IT TO THE METAL CABINET WITH SCREWS.

HE WIRES THE TEMPERATURE-CONTROL BOARD TO A TOUCH SCREEN

AND CONNECTS THE POWER SUPPLY FOR THE TOUCH SCREEN.

HE INSTALLS A STAINLESS STEEL SHELF ON TOP, TOWARDS THE FRONT.

HE SCREWS THE FRONT PANEL

THAT HOUSES THE TOUCH SCREEN TO THE CABINET.

HE ADDS THE TOP PANEL

THAT THE FURNACE CHAMBER WILL SIT ON.

HE ASSEMBLES THE METAL SURROUND FOR THE FURNACE CHAMBER

TO THE CONTROL CABINET,

THEN SLIDES THE FURNACE CHAMBER INTO PLACE.

MOVING TO THE OPEN BACK, HE WIRES THE HEATING ELEMENTS

FOR POWER AND INSERTS A TEMPERATURE SENSOR

INTO A HOLE IN THE CENTER OF THE CHAMBER.

HE ASSEMBLES A CONNECTOR BLOCK,

WHICH WILL RELAY THE SENSOR SIGNAL

TO THE CONTROLLER.

HE ENCLOSES THE BACK WITH ANOTHER METAL PANEL.

THE NEXT TECHNICIAN HINGES THE DOOR TO THE METAL SURROUND.

THE DOOR IS A METAL STRUCTURE

THAT'S FILLED WITH MANY LAYERS OF CERAMIC-FIBER INSULATION.

HE LOWERS AND RAISES THE DOOR

TO CONFIRM THAT IT OPERATES SMOOTHLY.

THIS METAL COVER IS THE FINISHING TOUCH.

HE SNAPS IT ONTO THE DOOR AND SECURES IT WITH SCREWS.

THE LABORATORY FURNACE'S THICK, INSULATED CHAMBER

IS READY TO CONTAIN THE EXTREME HEAT

AND MAINTAIN IT.

AND THESE TORRID CONDITIONS

ARE IDEAL FOR QUALITY-CONTROL TESTING.

Narrator: AEROGELS ARE THE LIGHTEST SOLID MATERIALS

ON EARTH.

THEY HAVE NANOSIZED PORES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT

FOR COLD OR HOT AIR TO PENETRATE.

USED TO INSULATE THE ELECTRONICS OF THE MARS ROVERS

AND TO CAPTURE COMET DUST,

AEROGELS ARE AMONG THE MOST FASCINATING MATERIALS.

AEROGELS IN SHAPED FORMS LOOK ALMOST LIKE HOLOGRAMS.

YET THEY FEEL LIKE HARD FOAM.

IT'S WHY THEY ARE OFTEN CALLED FROZEN SMOKE OR SOLID SMOKE.

MAKING THEM STARTS WITH FOUR INGREDIENTS --

A CHEMICAL CALLED TMOS, METHANOL,

CONCENTRATED AMMONIA, AND WATER.

THE TECHNICIAN ADDS MEASURED AMOUNTS OF TMOS AND METHANOL

TO A BEAKER THAT HAS A MAGNETIC STIR BEAD

AT THE BOTTOM.

HE TRANSFERS THE BEAKER

TO A DEVICE THAT GENERATES A ROTATING MAGNETIC FIELD.

THIS CAUSES THE BEAD IN THE BOTTLE

TO EVENLY MIX THE INGREDIENTS.

HE POURS THE MIXTURE INTO A LARGER BEAKER

AND ADDS SPECIFIC AMOUNTS OF WATER,

ADDITIONAL METHANOL, AND AMMONIA HYDROXIDE.

AS THE INGREDIENTS ARE BLENDED, A CHEMICAL REACTION OCCURS.

THE TMOS AND WATER REACT TO FORM SILICA.

THE CHEMICAL REACTION

WILL ALSO CAUSE THE MIXTURE TO BECOME A GEL.

BUT BEFORE THAT HAPPENS, HE QUICKLY PREPARES THE MOLDS.

HE POURS PURE METHANOL OVER A PLASTIC GRID

AND ARRANGES RECTANGULAR MOLDS OVER THE GRID.

HE INJECTS PRECISE AMOUNTS OF THE SILICA GEL MIX

INTO THE MOLDS

AND LEAVES THEM TO GEL.

DURING THIS PROCESS, THE METHANOL UNDER THE GRID

EVAPORATES, PREVENTING EXCESSIVE DRYING OF THE GELS.

THE MIXTURE COAGULATES IN JUST MINUTES,

BUT IT TAKES ABOUT A DAY

FOR THE GELS TO FULLY STRENGTHEN.

HE THEN SOAKS THE SILICA GELS IN METHANOL BATHS REPEATEDLY

OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL DAYS.

THE METHANOL SEEPS IN THE GEL'S PORES

TO FLUSH OUT IMPURITIES.

THE GEL PORES ARE SO MINUSCULE

THEY CAN'T BE SEEN WITH THE NAKED EYE.

THE TECHNICIAN DECANTS THE USED METHANOL INTO A CONTAINER.

HE'LL SEND IT TO A RECYCLER TO REMOVE IMPURITIES,

AND THIS WILL ALLOW IT TO BE USED AGAIN

IN THE AEROGEL PRODUCTION PROCESS.

AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF SOAKING IN METHANOL,

THE SILICA GELS ARE PURIFIED.

THEY'RE READY FOR A PROCESS KNOWN AS SUPERCRITICAL DRYING.

IT'S A PROCESS THAT WILL CONVERT THESE SILICA GELS INTO AEROGELS.

A TECHNICIAN PLACES THE GELS IN A PRESSURE VESSEL.

HE LOCKS THE HEAVY STEEL LID WITH 12 LARGE BOLTS AND NUTS

SO IT WILL HOLD TIGHT AGAINST A PRESSURE

THAT'S 100 TIMES GREATER THAN THAT OF THE NORMAL ATMOSPHERE.

HE CONNECTS THE HOSE THAT DELIVERS LIQUID

AND CARBON DIOXIDE TO THE VESSEL.

THE LIQUID CARBON DIOXIDE REPLACES THE METHANOL

IN THE GEL'S PORES.

THEY THEN HEAT AND PRESSURIZE THE GELS

UNTIL THE CARBON DIOXIDE IN THEM BECOMES SUPERCRITICAL.

IT'S SEMILIQUID, SEMIGAS.

THE SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE

DIFFUSES OUT WITHOUT COLLAPSING THE GELS' SOLID SKELETONS.

THIS TRANSFORMS THE SILICA GELS

INTO TRANSPARENT SOLIDS THAT ARE MOSTLY AIR.

TO DEMONSTRATE THE INSULATING PROPERTIES

OF THE NANOSIZED PORES,

THEY AIM A BLOWTORCH UNDER AN AEROGEL

WITH A PEANUT BUTTER CUP ON THE TOP.

IT DOESN'T MELT.

A TECHNICIAN THEN PLACES THE AEROGEL ON A SCALE

TO CONFIRM ITS INCREDIBLE LOW DENSITY.

THIS AEROGEL WEIGHS LESS THAN A NICKEL.

NEXT, USING A SCOOPULA,

WHICH IS A TOOL WITH A V-SHAPED DENT,

SHE BREAKS AN AEROGEL INTO LITTLE PIECES.

SHE INSERTS THE BITS

INTO A GLASS TUBE WITH A BULB AT THE BASE.

SHE TRANSFERS THE TUBE TO A MACHINE

THAT MEASURES HOW MUCH NITROGEN GAS

THE AEROGEL BITS TAKE UP AT DIFFERENT PRESSURES

TO DETERMINE THE SIZE OF THE PORES

AND THE SURFACE AREA.

AEROGELS CAN HAVE OTHER MAGICAL PROPERTIES.

TO DEMONSTRATE,

SHE RUBS SPECIALLY TREATED AEROGEL PARTICLES ON HER HANDS.

SHE THEN PLUNGES HER HANDS INTO WATER.

THE AEROGEL PARTICLES ACT LIKE WATERPROOF GLOVES

AND REPEL THE WATER.

THIS WATER RESISTANCE MAKES AEROGELS USEFUL

FOR A VARIETY OF APPLICATIONS.

THEY CAN BE ADDED TO PAINT

OR OTHER THINGS TO MAKE THEM WATERPROOF

AND ADD INSULATING PROPERTIES.

SCIENTISTS CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL OF AEROGELS.

A GOSSAMER SYNTHETIC MATERIAL THAT WEIGHS ALMOST NOTHING,

THERE'S A LOT MORE TO THEM THAN IT MAY SEEM.