High-Tech 'Bubble Wrap' Lets You Hold Fire Without Getting Burned
Buildings can be energy-inefficient, but a new material called the Mesoporous Optically Clear Heat Insulator, or MOCHI, could change that. Developed by physicists at the University of Colorado Boulder, MOCHI is a nearly transparent, long-lasting silicon gel that insulates so well, you could hold a flame on your palm without getting burned.
MOCHI's secret lies in its tiny pores, which trap heat within their networks. This mechanism is similar to aerogels, but MOCHI reflects only 0.2% of incoming light, making it almost completely transparent. In experiments, MOCHI applied to a cold window stopped 95% of heat transfer, making it a potential solution for energy-efficient buildings.
The team behind MOCHI sees potential for energy sustainability, including repurposing it as solar panels for buildings in climate zones with limited sunlight. However, MOCHI is still under development, as fabrication takes a long time, but the team is hopeful due to the cheaper ingredients and potential for market success.
