Polymeric aerogels are nanoporous structures that combine some of the most desirable characteristics of materials, such as flexibility and mechanical strength. It is nearly impossible to improve on a ...

Imagine if there were a metallic device that could be transported all squished down into a compact ball, but that would automatically "bloom" out into its useful form when heated. Well, that may soon ...

Chemists have made aerogels that have rubber-like elasticity and can "remember" their original shapes. Aerogels are created by replacing liquids with gases in a silica, metal oxide or polymer gel.