BBC Knowledge AUGUST 2017

PHOTO: SURREY NANO SYSTEMS

&Answers

Questions

12

WHAT IS THE

DARKEST HUMAN-

MADE SUBSTANCE?

In 2014, researchers at UK-based Surrey NanoSystems

unveiled Vantablack, a coating that absorbs up to 99.

percent of light that falls onto it. Vantablack is made up

of millions of carbon nanotubes barely 200 atoms across,

and it can be used to absorb stray light in the sensitive

instruments of satellite observatories. When it is applied

to ordinary objects, however, it creates the illusion of

making them look totally flat. You can even buy a watch

with a Vantablack dial! RM

As no light reflects

off an object

coated with

Vantablack,

it’s impossible

for our eyes

to make out any

three-dimensional

features

A

Dr Alastair Gunn

Astronomer, astrophysicist

Alexandra Cheung

Environment/ climate expert

Prof Alice Gregory

Psychologist, sleep expert

Prof Mark Lorch

Chemist, science writer

Q

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

&

Dr Helen Scales

Oceans expert, science writer

Luis Villazon

Science/tech writer

Prof Robert Matthews

Physicist, science writer