Aerogel is a low-density
solid-state
material derived from gel in which the liquid component of the gel has been
replaced with gas. The result is an extremely low density
solid with several remarkable properties, most notably its effectiveness as a
thermal insulator.
It is nicknamed frozen smoke, solid smoke or blue smoke due to its
translucent nature and the way light scatters in the material; however, it
feels like expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) to the touch.
