Aerogel, also called blue smoke due to its appearance and it's an amazing futuristic material. First discovered in 1930 it is still being developed for future uses as a possible thermal insulation material for light aircraft and spacecraft. It's also being developed for, amongst other things, sports wear and house insulation.
Fascinating Fact
Aerogel is a silicone-based solid that is 99.8% air.
Look at these sites for more sophisticated information and visuals:
Look too at youtube for a film about this material.
(With thanks to http://www.astrophys-assist.com for use of the image)
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