Scientists create a black that erases virtually all light

[2008]

Their Deepest, Darkest Discovery: Scientists Create a Black That Erases Virtually All Light

By Rick Weiss
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 20, 2008; A01

Black is getting blacker.

Researchers in New York reported this month that they have created a paper-thin material that absorbs 99.955 percent of the light that hits it, making it by far the darkest substance ever made -- about 30 times as dark as the government's current standard for blackest black.

The material, made of hollow fibers, is a Roach Motel for photons -- light checks in, but it never checks out. By voraciously sucking up all surrounding illumination, it can give those who gaze on it a dizzying sensation of nothingness.

"It's very deep, like in a forest on the darkest night," said Shawn-Yu Lin, a scientist who helped create the material at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. "Nothing comes back to you. It's very, very, very dark."

more:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/19/AR2008021902617_pf.html

[El Pinko]

1. That's fascinating, and cool. Wish I could see it.

I wonder if you go blind by looking at it. LOL

[BlueJazz]

6. Here's a picture of it

[Canuckistanian]

8. Wow, it sucked all the light out of my room

And that's just a PICTURE of it.

[pegleg]

13. What's that in the backround?

[greenman3610]

2. I see this for a meditation room

at a high end spa or zendo

[Mojambo]

3. It's like the beginning of a Sci-Fi channel original movie production. n/t

[Bicoastal]

4. THUS JUST IN: Jackson and Sharpton question whether the achievement is "Black enough."

Film at 11.

:hide:

[Mojambo]

Niiice. n/t

[davidinalameda]

5. hehe

:rofl:

[BoneDaddy]

15. Lol

that was funny.

[kentauros]

7. Are its dimensions 1x8x27, perchance?

;)

"My God! It's full of stars!"

[Snarkoleptic]

9. The repukes have been working on snuffing the light out for years.

[LostInAnomie]

10. pfft...

... my soul is WAY blacker than that.

[cynatnite]

11. This would suck in all light, too...

[kittykitty]

12. Wonder if the is the same as the cloak of invisibility that the Army had a year or so ago

They claimed to have something that could cover an object or person that would make it invisible. It might have even been two years ago, but then I never saw anything more about it.

[davidinalameda]

14. much different

I can't remember exactly how that worked but it was something about bending light rays

[Cheap_Trick]

16. how much more black can it be?

none more black