WHAT IS VANTABLACK

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Fantastic and weird science.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
Welcome to the Weird Science Facts Podcast. We provide a
five minute or less daily podcast on weird science, debunking
myths and old sayings. So joined Doctor Carlos in this
daily diet of fun, strange and weird world the fat.
Have you ever heard of Vanta black? What's a special

(00:33):
coding developed by Surrey Nanosystems, a company based in the UK.
It is considered one of the darkest substances known to man.
It absorbs over ninety nine point seven percent of visible light.
The name Vanta black is an acronym for vertically aligned
nanotube or ray black. The unique properties of this color
a result of its nanostructure. The coding is composed of

(00:55):
vertically aligned carbon nanotubes, which are incredibly thin, typically around
twenty nanometers in diater. When light enters the coating, the
nanotubes trap and absorb the photons, converting them into heat energy.
This absorption of light is so efficient that the human
eyes perceives vanted black is almost an entirely featureless, deep
black void. Due to its extreme light absorbing capabilities, Vanda

(01:18):
black has gained attention and found application in various fields.
It is primarily used in scientific and industrial applications such
as space and astronomical instrumentation, where minimizing stray light and
improving contrast is crucial. Panta black has also found use
in high end optics, where it helps reduce unwanted reflections
in glare. Overall, Vanta black is a remarkable material known

(01:39):
for its exceptional light absorbing properties make it an intriguing
innovation in the field of materials science.