Vantablack – fakuto

Some people are using black tiles to make their swimming pools look minimalistic, or like black holes, or some other reason fads start when regular swimming pools have been perfectly serviceable since forever.

If you’re thinking about getting one for yourself, well….you might want to read through this very informative (and hilarious) Tumblr thread first.

It began when someone posted a picture of black-tiled pools, praising the aesthetic. Someone replied, suggesting they use “that black material that absorbs all light” so they could “swim over the void” – presumably referring to Vantablack.

Image Credit: Tumblr

To which, someone replied with a Doomsday script that is sure to attract Jerry Bruckheimer like white on rice.

In it, they began with the “fun fact” that Vantablack would heat up so quickly in the sun that the pool would soon boil anyone swimming in it.

Image Credit: Tumblr

Then, they added the fact that boiling pool water would emit a chlorine gas that would eventually kill most of your town.

Image Credit: Tumblr

And then continuing with the (fact?) that anyone who survived that would be turned into a flesh-craving zombie.

Image Credit: Tumblr

Like, a real one.

Image Credit: Tumblr

Some people can’t let anyone have any fun.

By the way that was all made up. Every single word of it.

How do we know? Oh, just a guess…

Image Credit: Tumblr

Yes, they were just having fun. And we were having a little fun with you because, well, why not. It’s not like anything matters anymore anyway, right?

Did you think that science was legit? Imagine if it was!

Okay, I’ve got an idea for a new novel…

The post The “Real” Dangers of Black-Tiled Pools as Told by Folks on Tumblr appeared first on UberFacts.

Vantablack, the world’s “blackest black” pigment since 2016, has been controlled by artist Anish Kapoor.

But as of now, he no longer owns the blackest black out there because engineers at MIT have developed a new material that is 10 times blacker than Vantablack.

The new material, made of carbon nanotubes, absorbs 99.995% of all incoming light.

They created it by vertically aligning the microscopic carbon filaments, which resulted in a sort of fuzzy forest of trees that they them grew on a piece of chlorine-soaked aluminum.

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One of the darkest substances known, Vantablack reflects just 1% of light sent its way. The material is available in a spray form, which means it can be used for commercial cameras, art projects, jewelry or luxury items. Or, in this case, a BMW X6.⁣⁠ ⁣⁠ What would you like to see coated in Vantablack?⁣⁠ ⁣⁠ #vantablack #bmwx6 #vantablackx6 #vantablackspray #vantablackcar⁠

A post shared by CNET (@cnet) on Oct 1, 2019 at 11:35am PDT

The results were published in a scientific journal, as well as displayed in an exhibition at the New York Stock Exchange.

The artwork on display is called The Redemption of Vanity and was conceived by Diemut Strebe in collaboration with MIT professor Brian Wardle. Together, they covered one of the shiniest objects they could think of – a 16.78-carat natural yellow diamond worth 2 million dollars – with the new black pigment. This made it appear to be a black void in front of another black background.

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With apologies to “Spinal Tap,” it appears that black can, indeed, get more black. MIT engineers have cooked up a material made from vertically aligned carbon nanotubes that captures virtually all incoming light. Learn more: http://mitsha.re/P7hN50wbpMT #mit #carbonnanotubes #research #blackestblack #research #SpinalTap @artsatmit #aeroastro #engineers #engineering

A post shared by MIT (@mitpics) on Sep 17, 2019 at 7:40am PDT

Wardle talked a bit about the project and why he thinks it’s important”

“There are optical and space science applications for very black materials, and of course, artists have been interested in black, going back well before the Renaissance. Our material is 10 times blacker than anything that’s ever been reported, but I think the blackest black is a constantly moving target. Someone will find a blacker material, and eventually we’ll understand all the underlying mechanisms, and will be able to properly engineer the ultimate black.”

The scientists made the discovery on accident – they were looking for a way to grow carbon nanotubes on materials that would boost electrical conductivity, not a blacker black than Vantablack – but they couldn’t help but notice how black their substance became as it grew.

The "blackest black" can make a 16.78-carat yellow diamond completely “disappear." Boston-based artist Diemut Strebe collaborates with @MIT to create a one of a kind piece called The "Redemption of Vanity."https://t.co/LLk1zkiZb6

— KQED Arts (@KQEDarts) September 19, 2019

Now, they’re applying for a patent for the technology. And word on the scientific street is that the artists who were irked about Kapoor’s monopolization of Vantablack will be pretty happy to have an alternative.

I, for one, am new to the ruckus and completely fascinated.

Blackest blacks and their blacker challengers are a thing scientists and artists throw down over. Who knew?

The post MIT Engineers Say There’s a New Blackest Black Color appeared first on UberFacts.