Aerogel, also known as liquid smoke is seriously cool stuff – its the lightest solid there is – its made by taking silica and removing the liquid from it leaving its molecular structure intact. Its a form of silicon dioxide.

Cool things about it

• How it looks
• its 96% air
•  it is incredibly strong able to support 4000 times its own weight (under compression – its also brittle though)
• Has incredible thermal qualities – and insulates more than 39 times better than the best fibre glass insulation.