Where does this come from, and can I check it?

Some formulations have a density near 1 milligram per cubic centimetre. The figure is taken from NASA, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

Is this really a records & extremes fact?

Yes. It sits on the Records & Extremes shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.

What else can I read about it?

The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.

Mondo Knows Facts

Silica aerogel is the lightest solid material

Some formulations have a density near 1 milligram per cubic centimetre Aerogels are made by extracting the liquid from a gel and leaving the solid skeleton behind, producing a material that is mostly air. The lightest silica aerogels reach densities close to 1 milligram per cubic centimetre, only a few times denser than air. Because the pores are smaller than the wavelength of light, the material looks faintly blue and is an excellent insulator. It sits in Mondo's records & extremes collection, one of 200 facts that each trace back to the reference below.

Where this comes from

NASA

Facts that can change over time are reviewed and updated. If something here looks wrong, Mondo would rather know than be confidently incorrect.

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Tags: materials, aerogel, density

Silica aerogel is the lightest solid material: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: Some formulations have a density near 1 milligram per cubic centimetre. The figure is taken from NASA, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a records & extremes fact?: Yes. It sits on the Records & Extremes shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.