Metal developed less dense than air

[brainhulk]

http://news.yahoo.com/worlds-lightest-solid-takes-inspiration-eiffel-tower-134809070.html

A metallic lattice of hair-thin pipes is now the lightest solid yet created — less dense than air, scientists revealed.
The strategy used to create these intricate structures could lead to revolutionary materials of extraordinary strength and lightness, including ones made of diamond, researchers added.
Ultra-lightweight materials such as foams are widely used in thermal insulation and to dampen sounds, vibrations and shocks. They can also serve as scaffolds for battery electrodes and catalytic systems.

 

[ElFenix]

wonder if you could make rocket fuel tanks out of this?

 

[Matthiasa]

Less dense then air yet pictured pressing down on a flower... does not compute.

 

[Slew Foot]

If its less dense than air, shouldnt it float?

 

[Matthiasa]

If its less dense than air, shouldnt it float?

Yes, Yes it should.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

If its less dense than air, shouldnt it float?

Don't go bringing physics into this.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

If its less dense than air, shouldnt it float?

My guess is since it's a very coarse lattice, the air penetrates without providing significant upforce.

 

[911paramedic]

Same question. Why isn't it floating out of the lab?

 

[911paramedic]

My guess is since it's a very coarse lattice, the air penetrates without providing significant upforce.

I know what the densest thing ^ is...

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

I know what the densest thing ^ is...

Well, it's still made of metal which is more dense than air. Just because it's laid out in a lattice structure that overall is less dense than air doesn't mean it will float because the air simply penetrates the structure. If it was literally solid where it displaced air equal to its volume, it would float.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Well, it's still made of metal which is more dense than air. Just because it's laid out in a lattice structure that overall is less dense than air doesn't mean it will float because the air simply penetrates the structure. If it was literally solid where it displaced air equal to its volume, it would float.

So you're saying that something that is more dense than air can be made less dense than air by adding... air? My mind is blown.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

So you're saying that something that is more dense than air can be made less dense than air by adding... air? My mind is blown.

They aren't adding air, the air happens to fill in the open space in the lattice. The air is irrelevant because everything on earth is normalized to the pressure caused by the atmosphere.

If they sealed the outside of the lattice and removed all the air (Made it a vacuum inside the lattice) it would float around like you guys apparently expect.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

better version of the same article:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15788735

 

[Matthiasa]

They aren't adding air, the air happens to fill in the open space in the lattice. The air is irrelevant because everything on earth is normalized to the pressure caused by the atmosphere.

If they sealed the outside of the lattice and removed all the air (Made it a vacuum inside the lattice) it would float around like you guys apparently expect.

It's more like that is a very loose definition of density... like saying the Eiffel tower is less dense than air since the air in the area surrounding it weighs more then it does.
Its a disingenuous statement at best.
If something is less dense then the object it is in, it is by definition also suppose to be buoyant. Weight of whatever fills it must be taken into account.
For instance a boat filed with air is less dense then water and floats whiles a boat filled with water is more dense then the water and sinks.

 

[DrPizza]

It's more like that is a very loose definition of density... like saying the Eiffel tower is less dense than air since the air in the area surrounding it weighs more then it does.
Its a disingenuous statement at best.
If something is less dense then the object it is in, it is by definition also suppose to be buoyant. Weight of whatever fills it must be taken into account.
For instance a boat filed with air is less dense then water and floats whiles a boat filled with water is more dense then the water and sinks.

I've seen that claim before - that if you surrounded the Eiffel tower with a cylinder, the weight of the air inside would weigh more than the tower itself. I did a really quick calculation once - it seems that's only true if you ignore the volume of the metal, and ignore the fact that the pressure of the air is NOT 1atm from base to top.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

It's more like that is a very loose definition of density... like saying the Eiffel tower is less dense than air since the air in the area surrounding it weighs more then it does.
Its a disingenuous statement at best.
If something is less dense then the object it is in, it is by definition also suppose to be buoyant. Weight of whatever fills it must be taken into account.
For instance a boat filed with air is less dense then water and floats whiles a boat filled with water is more dense then the water and sinks.

Yes, yes I know. I was attempting to explain why it doesn't float. I'm not advocating the use of the term "density" in relation to this new "solid". I'm actually kind of disappointed they are referring to it with these terms when they don't really seem to apply.

I could use popsicle sticks and hot glue to build a lattice that is probably around 90% open air, but that doesn't make it a new solid that is as light as air.

 

[Newbian]

Less dense then air yet pictured pressing down on a flower... does not compute.

Clearly the flower is eating it.

 

[gururu2]

Imagine breathing this stuff in... I can see this stuff, along with thousand of other nanotube based materials shedding into the atmosphere once in mass production. There is a burgeoning area of environmental science focused on dealing with this as far as measuring and regulations are concerned (aspiring environmental engineers take note!). Anyways, this looks like a real doozy for tearing lung tissue up.