Reflectivity Reaches a New Low 166
sporkme writes "A new nanocoating material developed by a team of researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has the lowest level of reflectivity ever seen ... or not seen in this case. The amount of light reflected by the composite of silica nanorods and aluminum nitride is almost the same amount reflected by air. From the article: 'Schubert and his coworkers have created a material with a refractive index of 1.05, which is extremely close to the refractive index of air and the lowest ever reported. Window glass, for comparison, has a refractive index of about 1.45. Using a technique called oblique angle deposition, the researchers deposited silica nanorods at an angle of precisely 45 degrees on top of a thin film of aluminum nitride, which is a semiconducting material used in advanced light-emitting diodes (LEDs). From the side, the films look much like the cross section of a piece of lawn turf with the blades slightly flattened.' Suggested applications include increased efficiency in solar cells, more energy-efficient lighting and advances in quantum mechanics."
Hey check out my new low reflective phone! (Score:5, Funny)
And what everyone was really thinking... (Score:5, Funny)
Nothing to see here... (Score:5, Funny)
Transparent Aluminum? (Score:4, Funny)
typed on "Keyboard, how quaint"
Re:And what everyone was really thinking... (Score:3, Funny)
Finally (Score:2, Funny)
Re:And what everyone was really thinking... (Score:4, Funny)
I think you mean:
Oh my... (Score:3, Funny)
Just when you started to think it couldn't get worse...
Re:And what everyone was really thinking... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Transparent Aluminum? (Score:4, Funny)
>
>typed on "Keyboard, how quaint"
Naw, that ship was at least visible. How about something like that ship over there. I mean that... is really bad for the eyes... I mean you can hardly make out its shape... light just seems to fall into it!
And the UI... I mean, it's the wild color scheme that freaks me. Every time you try to operate on of these weird black controls that are labelled in black on a black background, a little black light lights up black to let you know you've done it. And then it crashes into the sun! What kind of UI is this, Windows Aero?
Re:Hey check out my new low reflective phone! (Score:5, Funny)
Ooooh! Shiny! Wait... awwwww...
Re:And what everyone was really thinking... (Score:4, Funny)
Superman: So, I see you're flying the invisible plane.
Wonder Woman: Oooh, um...er...this is...kinda embarrassing. You see...I'm actually, in the lavatory of the invisible plane.
Superman: Oh...so, you mean...right now, you're...
Wonder Woman: Yeah.
(Wonder Woman stands up and walks forwards, sitting down again and gripping the invisible steering wheel)
Superman: So...I noticed you didn't wash your hands in the invisible sink...
Re:Oh crap.... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Nothing to see here... (Score:2, Funny)
Well.... (Score:3, Funny)
Actually, I was thinking... (Score:4, Funny)
note to radar operators (Score:3, Funny)
fun subject (Score:3, Funny)
Eh, until reflectivity wakes up in a dumpster with a dead hooker, not knowing how it got there or what happened the night before, I think it could get lower.
Re:Sorry, wrong: (Score:5, Funny)
Re:And what everyone was really thinking... (Score:1, Funny)
"Superman is flying over the countryside and notices Wonder Woman lying naked in the field, so he flies down and pleasures her. After finishing he rolls over, lights up a cigarette, and asks, 'was it good for you?' to which Wonder Woman replies, 'It was great, but I'm not sure the Invisible Man will ever walk again.'"
Just one question (Score:2, Funny)
"Black body radiation. The development could also advance fundamental science. A material that reflects no light is known as an ideal 'black body.' No such material has been available to scientists, until now. Researchers could use an ideal black body to shed light on quantum mechanics, the much-touted theory from physics that explains the inherent 'weirdness' of the atomic realm."
HOW CAN YOU USE AN IDEAL BLACK BODY TO SHED LIGHT?