Aerogels are ultra low density wonder materials, the lightest solids on the earth. They could be the key to unlocking the future – NASA says they could change the way we think about insulation, and has used them extensively for cutting-edge space technology and research. Aerogels seem to be a material way ahead of their time. So it may come as a surprise that they were invented almost 100 years ago!
In 1931 Samuel Kistler, a dedicated scientist and college professor, published the first paper on aerogels. Shortly after, in 1934, Kistler filed for the first aerogel patent.
Read more about the origins of aerogels and Kistler’s life here, and make sure to browse our Webrary for other resources and patents related to aerogels!
