Scientists at UC Irvine (a university in California) have unveiled what is currently the world’s lightest man-made substance, an “ultralight metallic microlattice,” that is 100 times lighter than styrofoam, and 1 000 times less dense than water.

The microlattice is comprised of a network of inter-connecting hollow tubes each made of a nickel composite. The wall density of each tube is less than a 1 000th of a human hair. Despite it’s apparent fragility, the microlattice material is surprisingly resistant to force. When compressed to half its height, the material restored itself to 98% of its original volume. As it is much lighter than air, the lattice floats to the ground much like a feather, taking over 10 seconds if dropped from shoulder height.

The research team unveiled this creation in the latest edition of Science magazine. The microlattice has applications in armament technology, as well as aerospace engineering, and possibly even personal electronics, says the team that created it.

[Source: PC Mag]