-
Posts
-
By Third Envoqation · Posted
Everyone is now using AI for bug hunting, what do you think has been at the heart of all the major zero days that's been discovered in Linux and the thousands of lines of new code? It's all AI or AI supported. -
By Figure 8 Dash · Posted
Next they'll be selling Huang Bucks. GeCryptoForce, and the Jensen Phone. -
By spacelordmaster · Posted
The mere fact that Google is against ad blockers and allows these annoying things on our browsers is just plain disrespectful. Ublock Origin is now available on Safari and Safari has gotten way better and faster with every release. I currently use Edge but the minute Edge gets rid of Ublock Origin and follows the Google road, I am permanently going to Safari, Brave or Firefox. I am not going to let these greedy bast...rds dictate what I can or cannot see on my web browser. -
By hellowalkman · Posted
Only a Black Hole might be blacker than this, thanks to astonishing new technology by Sayan Sen Image by Skylar Kang via Pexels | Not representative Researchers at Cornell University developed a new way to produce ultrablack fabric that reflects an average of just 0.13% of incoming light, making it the darkest textile reported to date. Ultrablack materials reflect less than 0.5% of incoming light, so they absorb almost all visible light and appear nearly completely black. Because of this, they are used in technologies such as cameras, telescopes and solar thermal systems, where reducing unwanted reflections is important. According to a study published in Nature Communications, the new fabric also stays breathable, flexible and consistently black even when viewed from different angles. Many ultrablack materials available today are expensive to make, require complex manufacturing methods or are not suitable for clothing. Some also appear less black when viewed from an angle. To address these challenges, the Cornell team turned to nature for inspiration. Many animals use different colors in their skin, scales or feathers to attract mates or avoid predators. One of them is the magnificent riflebird, a member of the bird-of-paradise family found in New Guinea and Australia. The bird's feathers combine melanin, the natural pigment that gives color to skin, hair and feathers, with tiny microscopic structures that trap incoming light, giving the feathers their distinctive ultrablack appearance. The researchers recreated this effect using a two-step process on natural textiles. They first dyed white merino wool knit fabric with polydopamine, a synthetic material that mimics melanin. The fabric was then treated in a plasma chamber. Plasma is an energized state of matter that can precisely remove very small amounts of material from a surface. In this case, the process created tiny hair-like structures called nanofibrils on the wool fibers. "Polydopamine is a synthetic melanin, and melanin is what these creatures have," said Larissa Shepherd, assistant professor in Cornell's Department of Human Centered Design and senior author of the study. "And the riflebird has these really interesting hierarchical structures, the barbules, along with the melanin. So we wanted to combine those aspects in a textile." The team found that simply coating the outside of the fabric was not enough. Instead, the polydopamine had to penetrate the wool fibers before the plasma treatment. The plasma process removes part of the outer surface of the fibers, leaving behind the nanofibrils that are responsible for trapping light. "The light basically bounces back and forth between the fibrils, instead of reflecting back out – that's what creates the ultrablack effect," researcher Jayamaha said. Tests showed the finished fabric had an average total reflectance of 0.13%. Reflectance is the percentage of incoming light that a surface reflects back, so a lower reflectance means more light is absorbed. The fabric also maintained its ultrablack appearance across a 120-degree viewing span, meaning it stayed consistently black when viewed from angles up to 60 degrees on either side. Unlike many commercially available ultrablack fabrics, the new material remains breathable, flexible and able to conform to the body. The researchers also found that it retained the durability and other properties of natural fabric after environmental and mechanical testing. They also showed that the ultrablack effect could be achieved using different plasma treatment settings, suggesting the process could be adapted for larger-scale textile manufacturing. The process can be applied not only to wool but also to other natural fibers, including silk and cotton. "From a design perspective, I think it's exciting because a lot of the ultrablack that exists isn't really as wearable as ours," Shepherd said. "And it stays ultrablack even from wider angles." To better understand how the bird's feathers achieve their appearance, the team studied riflebird feathers from the Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates before developing the fabric. The researchers also see uses for the material beyond clothing. Because it absorbs so much light, it could be useful in solar thermal technologies, which convert absorbed light into heat. According to researcher Park, the fabric may also have applications in camouflage. "We could actually use the ultrablack fabric for thermo-regulating camouflage," Park said. The material has already been explored in fashion. Last fall, fashion design management student Zoe Alvarez created a strapless dress inspired by the magnificent riflebird using the ultrablack fabric alongside iridescent blue details. Researchers used photographs of the dress to confirm the material's appearance. When the images were adjusted for contrast, brightness, hue and vibrance, the surrounding colors changed, while the ultrablack sections remained visually unchanged, demonstrating how effectively the fabric absorbs light. Cornell has applied for patent protection for the manufacturing process through its Center for Technology Licensing, and the researchers said they hope to commercialize the technology in the future. Source: Cornell University, Nature This article was generated with some help from AI and reviewed by an editor. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, this material is used for the purpose of news reporting. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. -
By branfont · Posted
It seems to have resolved itself. (Chrome post) EDIT: I spoke too soon! (Firefox post)
-
-
Recent Achievements
-
BenTuckett1997 earned a badge
Dedicated
-
SRODERICK earned a badge
One Month Later
-
Case_f went up a rank
Community Regular
-
Jeroen Wilms earned a badge
One Month Later
-
BrianMunton earned a badge
First Post
-
-
Popular Contributors
-
Tell a friend
.thumb.png.b7089ebbdf00d96b3b92dddbd04bac02.png)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now