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Revolutionary Nanocardboard Could Float with Sunlight

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Lightweight Innovations in Atmospheric Research

Researchers have developed sheets of a novel material known as nanocardboard, which they tested to assess the capabilities of their model. Composed mainly of chromium, aluminum, and aluminum oxide, these sheets are remarkably lightweight, weighing just one gram per square meter. When exposed to a laser or white LED, they produce measurable force on a testing apparatus, provided the surrounding atmosphere is sufficiently thin. Under conditions similar to sunlight exposure, the devices can generate more lift than their own weight.

This advancement illustrates the potential to harness an obscure and relatively weak physical effect to create levitating devices that operate in the upper atmosphere, powered solely by sunlight—a fascinating achievement in itself.

However, the researchers aim to extend their efforts further. They have identified the mesosphere as a challenging region of the atmosphere to study. This layer is too sparse to support conventional balloons or aircraft, yet dense enough to impede any satellites attempting to navigate it. Their objective is to develop one of these devices into an aircraft capable of carrying scientific instruments. This endeavor presents challenges, as the addition of structural components and instruments would add weight, and even in the mesosphere, these devices produce limited lift.

Furthermore, the task of transporting these light structures to their target altitude poses another complication. They lack the lift necessary to ascend from the lower atmosphere; therefore, they would need to be elevated into the upper stratosphere using an alternative method and released carefully to avoid damage. Additionally, unless deployed during the polar summer, there is a high chance they will descend back to the ground at night.

While these obstacles are significant, they do not render the goal unattainable. The path from concept to practical applications on Earth—and potentially on Mars, where the system could also be used for mesosphere exploration—remains complex. Even if the feasibility of this approach is uncertain, it represents a compelling intersection of physics and innovation.

Revolutionary Nanocardboard Could Float with Sunlight
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