Last summer, we ran a story about Vantablack, a manmade material darker than the blackest back.
When I first heard about it, I thought it was cool -- the vast majority of my wardrobe is black — but I didn't really understand why it was that big of a deal. Like, what's the need for it? And why does it really matter?
I'm guessing a lot of people had similar reactions because developer Surrey NanoSystems just released a series of videos showing the (new and improved) material “in action,” and holy crap, it is so cool.
Basically, this stuff is like a manmade black hole: It literally eats light. Light does not reflect off it -- at all. You could wear it, and it would basically be an invisibility cloak (well, at night anyway).
In short, I can pretty much guarantee you've never seen anything like this before.
Check out the videos below; give yourself a few minutes to freak/zone out in awe, and then read up on Vantablack here.
Vantablack vs. Laser
Vantablack vs. (Non-Vanta) Black
Vantablack vs. Vantablack
Vantablack vs. Wrinkles
Citations: The Blackest Material In The World Is Blowing Our Minds (Digg)
