All language subtitles for How Its Made S27E08 Wood Toys and Retro Toasters 1080p AMZN WEB-DL DDP2 0 H 264-SLAG_track4_[eng]

--Captions by VITAC--
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator:
A RUBBER TREE'S LIFE-SPAN

FOR NATURAL RUBBER PRODUCTION
IS LIMITED TO ABOUT 25 YEARS.

BUT MAKING TOYS
OUT OF THEIR WOOD

GIVES UNPRODUCTIVE TREES
A SECOND LIFE.

THIS IDEA COMES
FROM SOUTHEASTERN ASIA,

HOME TO MOST OF THE RUBBER
AND LATEX PRODUCTION WORLDWIDE.

THIS COMPANY,
BASED IN THAILAND,

MANUFACTURES TOYS
SUCH AS THIS SERIES

OF ANIMAL-SHAPED RACERS MADE
OF LOCALLY FARMED RUBBERWOOD.

THEY BUY OLD TREES

THAT HAVE EXCEEDED
THEIR PRODUCTIVE LIFE.

A WORKER FEEDS LUMBER
THROUGH A WOOD-ROUNDING MACHINE.

THE MACHINE DRIVES THE LOG
THROUGH A MILL

AND TURNS IT INTO A ROD.

THE WORKER PLACES THE ROD
ON A TRAY

ALONGSIDE OTHER PIECES
READY FOR CUTTING.

A CUTTING MACHINE AUTOMATICALLY
MATCHES THE LENGTH OF THE RODS

WHILE A ROUND SAW
CUTS OUT BLANKS,

WHICH ACCUMULATE IN A CRATE.

A ROUTER REMOVES THE SHARP EDGES
ON THE BLANKS.

STACKED IN A FEEDER TUBE,

THE BLANKS DROP DOWN ONE
BY ONE ON THE ROUTER TABLE.

AN AUTOMATED FEEDING MECHANISM

PUSHES EACH BLANK
AGAINST THE ROUTER HEAD.

THE ROUTER BLADE BITES

INTO THE BLANK
AND TRIMS OFF THE EDGE,

LEAVING THE PIECES
READY FOR SANDING.

AT ANOTHER STATION, A LATHE

TURNS SPHERICAL SHAPES
OUT OF THE WOOD.

SEVERAL BLADES MOVE IN SEQUENCE
TO FORM THE PIECE.

WHEN A NEW LENGTH
OF WOOD COMES THROUGH,

THE FRONT BLADE MOVES IN.

ONCE IT BACKS AWAY,

ANOTHER SET OF BLADES
SHAPES THE PIECE LATERALLY

BEFORE A CUTTER BLADE
SEPARATES IT FROM THE ROD.

A WORKER NOW POURS A NONTOXIC,
WATER-BASED PAINT

OVER THE SANDED BLANKS.

HE TRANSFERS THE BATCH
INTO A TUMBLING MACHINE.

THE TUMBLING PROCESS
WILL EVEN OUT THE COLOR

AND DRAIN THE EXTRA PAINT
TO ACCELERATE DRYING.

THE WORKER CLOSES AND SECURES
THE LID OF THE TUMBLER

BEFORE HE STARTS THE MACHINE.

THE FACILITY CAN SIMULTANEOUSLY
PROCESS 40 BATCHES

OF PAINTED PARTS
IN 30 MINUTES.

THE PAINTED PARTS
NOW GO TO A PAD PRINTER.

AN AUTOMATED ARM FEEDS THE PARTS
TO THE PRINTER,

WHICH STAMPS EACH PIECE
WITH A NONTOXIC PAINT.

A WORKER USES A TABLE SAW

TO GROOVE ANOTHER SET
OF PAINTED PARTS.

THE CUSTOM-MADE JIG ENSURES THAT
THE CUT IS STRAIGHT AND EVEN

AND THAT THE BLADE
MAKES ONLY A NARROW

AND SHALLOW GROOVE IN THE WOOD.

THE WORKER PLACES
THE GROOVED PART

ON A JIG AND BORES A HOLE
INTO THE PIECE WITH A DRILL.

THE MACHINED PIECE
GOES TO ANOTHER PAD PRINTER.

THE PAD PICKS UP PAINT
FROM A TRAY

AND TRANSFERS IT TO THE WOOD.

THIS PROCESS, CALLED
TAMPOGRAPHY, ALLOWS THE PRINTER

TO REPRODUCE A DESIGN
ON AN IRREGULAR SURFACE,

SUCH AS THIS WOOD PIECE.

THE PRINTED PARTS
DRY AT ROOM TEMPERATURE.

AS A LAST PAD PRINTER
PAINTS TWO DOTS ON THE WOOD,

THE FACE OF THE ANIMAL RACER
SLOWLY TAKES SHAPE.

THIS RED-COLORED POWDER
IS PROCESSED RUBBERWOOD SAWDUST

ENTIRELY RECYCLED
FROM THE MACHINING OPERATIONS.

A WORKER FILLS MOLDS
WITH THE REPROCESSED SAWDUST

AND PREPARES THEM FOR CASTING.

THE MACHINE COMPRESSES
THE SAWDUST IN A DIE

AND TURNS IT INTO A SOLID

AND COMPACT MATERIAL
CALLED PLANWOOD.

A WORKER STARTS ASSEMBLING
THE PLANWOOD PIECES

TO FORM THE BODY OF THE RACERS.

SHE APPLIES A THIN COAT

OF NONTOXIC,
FORMALDEHYDE-FREE GLUE

AND PRESSES TWO CORRESPONDING
PLANWOOD PIECES TOGETHER.

SHE REMOVES THE EXCESS GLUE
WITH HER FINGER

BEFORE SHE HAMMERS A DOWEL

INTO THE ASSEMBLED
PLANWOOD BODY.

TO FINISH THE HEAD
OF THE RACER,

SHE INSERTS A FELT PIECE
INTO THE GROOVE

MACHINED ON TOP
AND PRESSES THE HEAD

INTO THE RACER'S BODY
USING A PNEUMATIC PRESS.

THE WORKER THEN DRIVES THE AXLES

THROUGH HOLES
IN THE PLANWOOD ASSEMBLY.

SHE TAKES PAINTED
AND PAD-PRINTED WHEELS

AND APPLIES A DROP
OF FAST-HARDENING GLUE

INSIDE EACH WHEEL HUB.

SHE THEN HAMMERS THE WHEELS
INTO THE AXLES

AND TAKES THE ASSEMBLED TOY

TO A CUSTOMIZED MACHINE DESIGNED

TO PRESS THE WHEELS
FIRMLY INTO THE AXLES.

THIS FINISHED CHICKEN RACER
IS ONE OF A WIDE VARIETY

OF RUBBERWOOD TOYS

MANUFACTURED WITH
ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY PROCESSES

AND MATERIALS.

Narrator: WHETHER YOUR PREFERRED
SHADE IS LIGHT, MEDIUM, OR DARK,

OWNING A RELIABLE ELECTRIC
TOASTER THAT EVENLY HEATS

AND BROWNS BOTH SIDES
OF YOUR BREAD JUST THE WAY

YOU LIKE IT IS ONE
OF LIFE'S SMALL PLEASURES.

AND IF THAT TOASTER
ADDS SOME STYLE TO YOUR KITCHEN,

ALL THE BETTER.

MAKING RETRO-STYLE TOASTERS
IS THIS BRITISH COMPANY'S

BREAD AND BUTTER.

WHILE SOME OF ITS MODELS
ARE NEW DESIGNS

IN A VINTAGE STYLE,

THIS ONE IS AUTHENTICALLY RETRO,

IN CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION
SINCE THE 1960s.

THE MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT,
HOWEVER, IS MODERN.

A COMPUTER-GUIDED LASER CUTTER
CUTS OUT MANY COMPONENTS

FROM SHEET STEEL COATED WITH
ZINC FOR CORROSION RESISTANCE.

THEY STAMP THE COMPANY LOGO

AND THEN USE THE SAME PRESS

TO BEGIN FORMING
A RECTANGULAR BOX.

THEY BEND THREE SIDES
ON THIS PRESS...

THEN BEND THE FOURTH

ON A MACHINE
CALLED A BOX FOLDER.

THEY RIVET THE BODY CLOSED, THEN
SPRAY ON A THICK LAYER

OF PAINT POWDER
KNOWN AS POWDER COAT.

THEN, THEY RUN THE BODY
THROUGH A TUNNEL OVEN

FOR 10 MINUTES
TO BAKE THE FINISH.

THE COMPUTER-GUIDED
LASER CUTTER ALSO

CUTS OUT SEVERAL TOASTER TOPS

FROM A SHEET OF STAINLESS STEEL.

THIS MODEL
IS A FOUR-SLICE TOASTER,

SO THE MACHINE
CUTS FOUR SLOTS PER TOP.

TO MAKE THE MANUAL BREAD EJECTOR
THAT POPS UP THE HOT TOAST,

THEY WELD STEEL STRIPS
TO A ROUND STEEL BAR.

MOVING THE TOASTER'S
EJECTOR KNOB LIFTS THIS BAR,

RAISING THE TOP
OF THE TOAST OUT OF THE SLOT.

THEY BEND THE STRIPS,

CREATING A CRADLE
TO STABILIZE THE BREAD

SO THAT IT DOESN'T WOBBLE
AND GET CAUGHT

WHILE MOVING UP AND DOWN
WITHIN THE SLOT.

THIS MACHINE MAKES
THE TOASTER'S GUARD WIRES

OUT OF COPPER-COATED STEEL.

THE GUARD WIRES ARE BARRIERS
THAT PREVENT THE BREAD

FROM TOUCHING
THE TOASTER'S HEATING ELEMENTS.

THE MACHINE FIRST WELDS
CUT HORIZONTAL WIRES

TO FOUR CONTINUOUS
VERTICAL ONES.

THEN, A BLADE
CHOPS THE VERTICAL WIRES

EVERY 12 INCHES, PRODUCING
TWO SIDE-BY-SIDE GUARD WIRES.

WORKERS CUT THEM APART
ON A GUILLOTINE, THEN,

WITH A HAND PRESS,
FOLD OVER THE TOP OF EACH ONE.

THIS PREVENTS THE BREAD

FROM CATCHING ON THE TOP
OF THE GUARD WIRES.

NOW THEY TAKE
THE TOASTING COMPARTMENT

AND INSERT
THE EIGHT GUARD WIRES,

ONE FOR EACH SIDE
OF THE FOUR BREAD SLOTS.

THEN, THEY INSTALL
THE BREAD EJECTOR.

NEXT, THE HEATING ELEMENTS.

BEING A HIGH-END TOASTER,

THE ELEMENTS ARE SHEETS
OF PURE MICA,

A MINERAL THAT'S HEAT-RESISTANT
UP TO 1,800 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

THEY CONNECT THEM WITH

ELECTRICALLY
CONDUCTIVE COPPER LINKS.

THEY MOUNT THE SWITCH

THAT SELECTS THE NUMBER
OF BREAD SLICES TO TOAST.

THEN, THEY INSTALL A RED NEON
LIGHT THAT ILLUMINATES

WHEN YOU START THE TOASTER
AND TURNS OFF

WHEN THE TOAST TIME HAS ELAPSED.

THE TIMER SWITCH HAS A BELL

THAT SOUNDS WHEN
THE TOAST TIME IS UP,

AT WHICH POINT THE SWITCH CUTS
THE CURRENT TO THE ELEMENTS.

THEY ATTACH THE DIALS
FOR THE SLICE SELECTOR

AND TIMER SWITCHES

AND CONNECT THEIR WIRES
TO THE MAIN POWER CORD.

THEN, THEY PLACE
THE TOASTER COMPARTMENT

INTO THE BODY AND SCREW ON

THE TOASTER'S
STAINLESS STEEL TOP,

THE PROTECTIVE FILM NOW REMOVED.

THEY FLIP THE TOASTER
UPSIDE DOWN

AND WIRE UP THE ELEMENTS.

THEY INSTALL THE EJECTOR KNOB,

POSITIONING ITS SPRING
AGAINST THE BREAD EJECTOR.

WHEN THE BELL RINGS,
INDICATING YOUR TOAST IS READY,

YOU MOVE THE KNOB TO RAISE
AND RETRIEVE YOUR SLICES.

A TECHNICIAN TESTS THE TOASTER
THOROUGHLY, ENSURING

THAT ALL OF THE ELEMENTS HEAT
TO THE CORRECT TEMPERATURE,

THAT ONLY THE SELECTED
SLOTS HEAT UP,

THAT THE TIMER IS ACCURATE,

AND THAT THE BELL RINGS
WHEN THE SELECTED TIME ELAPSES.

THEY INSTALL THE REMOVABLE
CRUMB TRAY,

THEN CLOSE UP THE BOTTOM
OF THE TOASTER

WITH A VENTILATED BASE PLATE.

NYLON FEET ELEVATE
THE TOASTER FOR VENTILATION

AND TO PREVENT THE SCREWS
ATTACHING THE BASE

FROM SCRATCHING
YOUR KITCHEN COUNTER.

THE STYLE MAY BE RETRO,

BUT THIS 1960s-DESIGN TOASTER
WAS AHEAD OF ITS TIME

WITH ITS ENERGY-SAVING
SLICE-SELECTOR FEATURE

THAT STOPS THE TOASTER'S
EMPTY SLOTS

FROM HEATING UP UNNECESSARILY.

Narrator: LABORATORY FURNACES

ARE SMALL
BUT POWERFUL APPLIANCES.

THEY CAN REACH TEMPERATURES

OF 3,000 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT OR MORE.

THESE INCREDIBLE FURNACES
ARE OFTEN USED TO TEST

THE QUALITY OF THINGS
LIKE FUEL OIL, GREASES, COAL,

AND TO CONFIRM THE STRENGTH
OF STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.

EXPOSED TO THE RED-HOT INTENSITY
OF A LABORATORY FURNACE,

THIS PIECE OF STEEL

SHOULD ENDURE AND EVEN
BE STRENGTHENED BY THE EXPOSURE.

IT'S THE ULTIMATE TEST
OF THE STEEL'S INTEGRITY.

MAKING A LABORATORY FURNACE
STARTS WITH THIS LASER CUTTER.

IT CARVES OUT STEEL PANELS
FOR THE LOWER CABINET.

A PRESS BRAKE FOLDS THE PANELS
WITH PRECISION

TO MAKE THREE-SIDED PIECES
OF CABINETRY.

A WORKER STACKS THEM UP.

THE NEXT WORKER
APPLIES A POWDER COAT

TO THE METAL PARTS
USING A COMPRESSED-AIR SPRAYER.

WHEN BAKED ON, THE POWDER FORMS
A TOUGH THERMOPLASTIC SKIN.

AT THE NEXT STATION, A WORKER

TUCKS THE END
OF AN IRON ALLOY WIRE

INTO A LATHE.

AS THE LATHE SPINS,

IT WINDS THE WIRE
AROUND A MANDREL,

PRODUCING A TIGHT COIL.

THIS COILED WIRE WILL SERVE

AS ONE OF THE FURNACE'S
TWO HEATING ELEMENTS.

AFTER STRETCHING THE COIL
TO WIDEN THE GAPS

AND BENDING IT
TO CREATE PARALLEL ROWS,

THE TECHNICIAN
ATTACHES ELECTRICAL CLIPS.

HE FLIPS A SWITCH.

AND ELECTRICITY
SURGES THROUGH THE COIL.

THIS RELIEVES STRESSES
IN THE METAL CAUSED

BY THE WINDING AND BENDING.

HE NOW INSERTS TWO COILS
INTO THE RIDGES OF THE MOLD.

HE TRANSFERS IT TO A VAT FILLED
WITH A CERAMIC FIBER MIXTURE.

A POWERFUL VACUUM PUMP
PULLS THE MIXTURE INTO THE MOLD,

FILLING ALL THE CREVICES.

THE VACUUM THEN
DRAWS OUT THE MOISTURE.

THE COILS ARE NOW EMBEDDED
IN A CERAMIC CAKE.

THIS CAKE BAKES
IN AN OVEN OVERNIGHT

AND SOLIDIFIES,

ENCASING AND INSULATING
THE HEATING COILS.

A WORKER CUTS THE SOLID
CERAMIC-FIBER BLOCK IN TWO,

CREATING
TWO SEPARATE HEATING MODULES.

HE TRIMS THEM SO THEY FIT NEATLY
IN THE FURNACE CHAMBER.

A COMPUTERIZED ROUTER
CUTS OUT OTHER INSULATION PIECES

TO FIT THE REST
OF THE FURNACE CHAMBER.

THIS CERAMIC BRICK
IS A THRESHOLD INSULATOR.

THIS PIECE IS A SURROUND
FOR THE FURNACE DOOR.

A TEAM NOW PUTS ALL THE CERAMIC
FIBER PIECES TOGETHER

IN A METAL FRAMEWORK.

THE HEATING ELEMENT BLOCKS
FORM THE SIDES

OF THE FURNACE CHAMBER.

THEY THREAD THE WIRES
FROM THE COILS

THROUGH THE BACK PANEL.

THEY INSERT THE SIDE
AND BACK PANELS

IN THE FRAMEWORK.

THEY ASSEMBLE THE OTHER
CERAMIC FIBER PARTS

TO FORM AN INSULATED CHAMBER.

THEY SCREW THE FRAMEWORK TIGHT,

AND THIS NESTLES
THE CERAMIC-FIBER WALLS

MORE CLOSELY TOGETHER.

THEY TUCK THE THRESHOLD
INSULATOR INTO PLACE,

COMPLETING THE LABORATORY
FURNACE'S HEATED CHAMBER.

A TECHNICIAN NOW PLACES
THE FURNACE'S

ELECTRIC HEATING CONTROL PANEL
IN THE LOWER CABINET.

HE FASTENS IT TO THE METAL
CABINET WITH SCREWS.

HE WIRES THE TEMPERATURE-CONTROL
BOARD TO A TOUCH SCREEN

AND CONNECTS THE POWER SUPPLY
FOR THE TOUCH SCREEN.

HE INSTALLS A STAINLESS STEEL
SHELF ON TOP, TOWARDS THE FRONT.

HE SCREWS THE FRONT PANEL

THAT HOUSES THE TOUCH SCREEN
TO THE CABINET.

HE ADDS THE TOP PANEL

THAT THE FURNACE CHAMBER
WILL SIT ON.

HE ASSEMBLES THE METAL SURROUND
FOR THE FURNACE CHAMBER

TO THE CONTROL CABINET,

THEN SLIDES THE FURNACE CHAMBER
INTO PLACE.

MOVING TO THE OPEN BACK,
HE WIRES THE HEATING ELEMENTS

FOR POWER AND INSERTS
A TEMPERATURE SENSOR

INTO A HOLE IN THE CENTER
OF THE CHAMBER.

HE ASSEMBLES A CONNECTOR BLOCK,

WHICH WILL RELAY
THE SENSOR SIGNAL

TO THE CONTROLLER.

HE ENCLOSES THE BACK
WITH ANOTHER METAL PANEL.

THE NEXT TECHNICIAN HINGES
THE DOOR TO THE METAL SURROUND.

THE DOOR IS A METAL STRUCTURE

THAT'S FILLED WITH MANY LAYERS
OF CERAMIC-FIBER INSULATION.

HE LOWERS AND RAISES THE DOOR

TO CONFIRM
THAT IT OPERATES SMOOTHLY.

THIS METAL COVER
IS THE FINISHING TOUCH.

HE SNAPS IT ONTO THE DOOR
AND SECURES IT WITH SCREWS.

THE LABORATORY FURNACE'S
THICK, INSULATED CHAMBER

IS READY TO CONTAIN
THE EXTREME HEAT

AND MAINTAIN IT.

AND THESE TORRID CONDITIONS

ARE IDEAL
FOR QUALITY-CONTROL TESTING.

Narrator: AEROGELS ARE
THE LIGHTEST SOLID MATERIALS

ON EARTH.

THEY HAVE NANOSIZED PORES
THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT

FOR COLD OR HOT AIR
TO PENETRATE.

USED TO INSULATE THE ELECTRONICS
OF THE MARS ROVERS

AND TO CAPTURE COMET DUST,

AEROGELS ARE AMONG THE MOST
FASCINATING MATERIALS.

AEROGELS IN SHAPED FORMS
LOOK ALMOST LIKE HOLOGRAMS.

YET THEY FEEL LIKE HARD FOAM.

IT'S WHY THEY ARE OFTEN CALLED
FROZEN SMOKE OR SOLID SMOKE.

MAKING THEM STARTS
WITH FOUR INGREDIENTS --

A CHEMICAL CALLED
TMOS, METHANOL,

CONCENTRATED AMMONIA, AND WATER.

THE TECHNICIAN ADDS MEASURED
AMOUNTS OF TMOS AND METHANOL

TO A BEAKER
THAT HAS A MAGNETIC STIR BEAD

AT THE BOTTOM.

HE TRANSFERS THE BEAKER

TO A DEVICE THAT GENERATES
A ROTATING MAGNETIC FIELD.

THIS CAUSES THE BEAD
IN THE BOTTLE

TO EVENLY MIX THE INGREDIENTS.

HE POURS THE MIXTURE
INTO A LARGER BEAKER

AND ADDS SPECIFIC AMOUNTS
OF WATER,

ADDITIONAL METHANOL,
AND AMMONIA HYDROXIDE.

AS THE INGREDIENTS ARE BLENDED,
A CHEMICAL REACTION OCCURS.

THE TMOS AND WATER
REACT TO FORM SILICA.

THE CHEMICAL REACTION

WILL ALSO CAUSE THE MIXTURE
TO BECOME A GEL.

BUT BEFORE THAT HAPPENS,
HE QUICKLY PREPARES THE MOLDS.

HE POURS PURE METHANOL
OVER A PLASTIC GRID

AND ARRANGES RECTANGULAR MOLDS
OVER THE GRID.

HE INJECTS PRECISE AMOUNTS
OF THE SILICA GEL MIX

INTO THE MOLDS

AND LEAVES THEM TO GEL.

DURING THIS PROCESS,
THE METHANOL UNDER THE GRID

EVAPORATES, PREVENTING
EXCESSIVE DRYING OF THE GELS.

THE MIXTURE COAGULATES
IN JUST MINUTES,

BUT IT TAKES ABOUT A DAY

FOR THE GELS
TO FULLY STRENGTHEN.

HE THEN SOAKS THE SILICA GELS
IN METHANOL BATHS REPEATEDLY

OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL DAYS.

THE METHANOL SEEPS
IN THE GEL'S PORES

TO FLUSH OUT IMPURITIES.

THE GEL PORES ARE SO MINUSCULE

THEY CAN'T BE SEEN
WITH THE NAKED EYE.

THE TECHNICIAN DECANTS THE USED
METHANOL INTO A CONTAINER.

HE'LL SEND IT TO A RECYCLER
TO REMOVE IMPURITIES,

AND THIS WILL ALLOW IT
TO BE USED AGAIN

IN THE AEROGEL PRODUCTION
PROCESS.

AFTER SEVERAL DAYS
OF SOAKING IN METHANOL,

THE SILICA GELS ARE PURIFIED.

THEY'RE READY FOR A PROCESS
KNOWN AS SUPERCRITICAL DRYING.

IT'S A PROCESS THAT WILL CONVERT
THESE SILICA GELS INTO AEROGELS.

A TECHNICIAN PLACES THE GELS
IN A PRESSURE VESSEL.

HE LOCKS THE HEAVY STEEL LID
WITH 12 LARGE BOLTS AND NUTS

SO IT WILL HOLD TIGHT
AGAINST A PRESSURE

THAT'S 100 TIMES GREATER THAN
THAT OF THE NORMAL ATMOSPHERE.

HE CONNECTS THE HOSE
THAT DELIVERS LIQUID

AND CARBON DIOXIDE
TO THE VESSEL.

THE LIQUID CARBON DIOXIDE
REPLACES THE METHANOL

IN THE GEL'S PORES.

THEY THEN HEAT
AND PRESSURIZE THE GELS

UNTIL THE CARBON DIOXIDE
IN THEM BECOMES SUPERCRITICAL.

IT'S SEMILIQUID, SEMIGAS.

THE SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE

DIFFUSES OUT WITHOUT COLLAPSING
THE GELS' SOLID SKELETONS.

THIS TRANSFORMS THE SILICA GELS

INTO TRANSPARENT SOLIDS
THAT ARE MOSTLY AIR.

TO DEMONSTRATE
THE INSULATING PROPERTIES

OF THE NANOSIZED PORES,

THEY AIM A BLOWTORCH
UNDER AN AEROGEL

WITH A PEANUT BUTTER CUP
ON THE TOP.

IT DOESN'T MELT.

A TECHNICIAN THEN
PLACES THE AEROGEL ON A SCALE

TO CONFIRM ITS INCREDIBLE
LOW DENSITY.

THIS AEROGEL WEIGHS LESS
THAN A NICKEL.

NEXT, USING A SCOOPULA,

WHICH IS A TOOL
WITH A V-SHAPED DENT,

SHE BREAKS AN AEROGEL
INTO LITTLE PIECES.

SHE INSERTS THE BITS

INTO A GLASS TUBE
WITH A BULB AT THE BASE.

SHE TRANSFERS THE TUBE
TO A MACHINE

THAT MEASURES
HOW MUCH NITROGEN GAS

THE AEROGEL BITS TAKE UP
AT DIFFERENT PRESSURES

TO DETERMINE THE SIZE
OF THE PORES

AND THE SURFACE AREA.

AEROGELS CAN HAVE
OTHER MAGICAL PROPERTIES.

TO DEMONSTRATE,

SHE RUBS SPECIALLY TREATED
AEROGEL PARTICLES ON HER HANDS.

SHE THEN PLUNGES HER HANDS
INTO WATER.

THE AEROGEL PARTICLES
ACT LIKE WATERPROOF GLOVES

AND REPEL THE WATER.

THIS WATER RESISTANCE
MAKES AEROGELS USEFUL

FOR A VARIETY OF APPLICATIONS.

THEY CAN BE ADDED TO PAINT

OR OTHER THINGS
TO MAKE THEM WATERPROOF

AND ADD INSULATING PROPERTIES.

SCIENTISTS CONTINUE TO EXPLORE
THE POTENTIAL OF AEROGELS.

A GOSSAMER SYNTHETIC MATERIAL
THAT WEIGHS ALMOST NOTHING,

THERE'S A LOT MORE
TO THEM THAN IT MAY SEEM.