Summer is fast approaching, temperatures are rising, and for some people, the heat could become bothersome in the upcoming months. If you don’t own an air conditioner or you’d rather not have it on for long hours every day to save energy, you might be excited to learn that there is a novel and very interesting solution to the heat problem.
Scientists recently developed an extremely white paint that reflects 98.1 percent of sunlight and cools itself by radiating heat into outer space. The novel formulation could become a cheap and green way to cool down buildings. All homeowners have to do is simply paint their roof. The ultra-reflective paint was developed by Xiulin Ruan, a professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University in Indiana, and his colleagues. It is an improvement of a similar formula the team created last year, which reflected 95.5 percent of light.
Related: 8 Clever Ways to Cool Down Your Bedroom in the Summer Heat
The new paint’s extreme whiteness is due to very high levels of barium sulfate, a compound that occurs in the mineral barite. It is also a key ingredient in photographic paper and cosmetics. The chemistry of barium sulfate as a white pigment has been known since the 18th century, but Ruan and his team adjusted the particle size to create a substance that reflects heat better.
The barium sulfate particles present in the new paint are of different sizes, which is what gives it the broadest spectrum scattering of light and contributes to its high reflectibility.
The new and improved ultra-white paint also absorbs less than half of the amount of energy from the sun compared to the previous version developed by the lab. The amount of sunlight absorbed by the new paint is lower than the amount of energy it radiates through the atmosphere and into deep space, so the material coated with this novel paint actually becomes cooler than its surroundings.
The team hopes that this new technology can lower global carbon emissions by reducing the need for air-conditioning, as well as provide relief for those living in hot areas and are unable to afford air conditioning. According to Ruan, if the paint is used on a 930 square meter roof, the cooling effect of the paint is more powerful than that of an air conditioner. The paint also sends the energy away to outer space rather than leaving it trapped on Earth as an AC unit does. “Traditional air conditioners leave the heat on Earth’s surface, it’s just moved from the inside of your house to the outside,” Ruan said to New Scientist.
The painted surfaces will need to be kept clean of dust and dirt to retain their reflective properties, which is a challenge Ruan’s team is currently working on. Further testing of the product is still needed, but Ruan hopes that ultra-white paint could appear on the market in a year or two.
We will definitely continue following and updating you about the developments of this new technology, as it really has the potential of making a difference in the world.
Share this news with someone who would find it interesting!
How Gravity Built the World's Fastest Jet Suit
This jet suit is amazing and brings to mind old movies of the future that suddenly we find ourselves living in. What incredible science!
4 Super Technologies That Started Off as Failed Inventions
Check out how some of the great technological inventions of our time actually started off as failed projects.
Who Doesn't Love Seeing Amazing New Inventions?
Isn't it wonderful when you see a new invention? This list includes no less than eight of them for you to marvel at.
What is E-ink and What Does it Have to Do With Cars?
See for yourself! The new electric vehicle from BMW can change color with a push of a button.
All the Fascinating Space Discoveries Made in 2019
2019 has seen quite a few eye-opening discoveries about space and astronomy. Learn about 26 of them in this video.
Ancient Skull Found In China Unlike Any Human Ever Seen
A newly-discovered skull in China had baffled scientists. This could mean we might have discovered an entirely new species of humans.
Ever Wonder What Life Is Like if We Zoom In All the Way?
A selection of some of the winning photographs from Nikon's yearly macro photography contest.
Watch This Man Build a Future Using Trash from the Past
In this video, you will see what this incredible community has been able to accomplish by building homes from recycled materials.
12 Earliest Versions of Tech Inventions We Use Every Day
Witness the evolution of 11 popular devices we use all the time by looking at how they all started...
The History of Our Planet in One Beautiful Spiral...
This beautiful infographic offers us a remarkable story – the history of Planet Earth.
The Psychology Behind Why Some People Are Habitually Late
Now we finally know why some people are habitually late.
The Surprisingly Convoluted History of Traffic Lights
What did the first-ever traffic light look like? Probably stranger than you imagine...
The Story of the Internet: Who REALLY Invented It?
Who really invented the internet, and why did they REALLY do it?
These Will Give You True Perspective About Our World
Just to give you an idea of how big the Earth really is in true perspective to all the other heavenly bodies up there in the cosmos.
The Science Behind Why Laughter is the Best Medicine
They say laughter is the best medicine. But why exactly do we laugh?
20 Useful Facts About the Science of Cooking
The science behind cooking is not often thought of, but it plays a crucial role in a dish turning out right. Here are 20 facts on the science of cooking.
You Won't Believe That These Things Exist in Japan...
If there's one place on this planet that well and truly at the forefront of modern technology, it has got to be Japan, as these inventions prove...
13 Incredible ROOF INNOVATIONS For Your House
Keep the roof of your house safe with these incredibly useful inventions.
7 Exciting Physics Tricks You Have to See!
Watch these seven remarkable physics tricks in this exciting and fun video.
These Are the Miracles That Happen in Our Bodies Every Day
There is a lot that happens inside our bodies every single day. Did you know any of these facts?
Are You a Late Sleeper? This Super Video Explains Why
Why is it that some people are late risers, and some are morning people? It's all down to our genetics. Have a look here to find out more.
Scientists Develop Wrap That Determines if Food is Spoiled
Scientists at MIT have developed a biodegradable plastic-like wrap that changes color when food goes bad. Find out more…
6 Intriguing Archeological Finds of the 21st Century
These archaeological and paleontological discoveries were made in the past 10 years and they're equally fascinating and intriguing...
Sleep Inventions: 16 Gadgets to Help You Doze Off
If you frequently struggle with sleep, then trying these amazing new sleep innovations could help change your life.
Is it REALLY the Coffee that Wakes Us Up in the Morning?
A recent study has revealed that the coffee you drink may just be a placebo...
WATCH: What Is the Fingerprint of God's Creation?
The golden pattern, describes the mathematical code of the universe. Is this the scientific evidence of God's will and plan?
INTERACTIVE: How Personal Items Have Changed Over Time
Some of you will be old enough to remember what many of today's objects used to look like. Here are 20 such objects. Click to see them as they used to be.
These Optical Illusions Will Shock Your Mind!
Optical illusions create miscommunication between our eyes and brain making, us see things that are not really there or not see things that are right in front of us. See for yourself.
Revolutionize Your Green Space: 12 Cool Garden Gadgets
Take your garden to the next level with the amazingly cool inventions and gadgets.
This Humanoid Robot May Join the Workforce Very Soon...
Meet Digit – a bipedal robot that's ready to join human workers at warehouses around the world as early as 2024.
25 Pics Showing How People in the Past Imagined the Future
Let’s see how the people of the past imagined the future and find out if their fun predictions came true with these 25 vintage pictures
New Study: A Pill that Works Out Your Muscles?!?
New study shows that, though we are not there yet, a pill can and probably WILL come out that works out the muscles and grows them.
24 Smart Storage Inventions You Didn't Know You Needed
These super useful inventions are designed to make you help space!
6 Remarkable Yet Overlooked Minds That Shaped Our World
These underappreciated geniuses deserve more recognition.
The Oldest Medicines That Have Stood the Test of Time
Learn about some fascinating old medicine and general healing practices that have survived for thousands of years.
These Experiments Remind Us Water Isn't Just For Drinking
This video will make you stop and think for a second the next time you're having a glass of water as you remember the brightly colored experiments that this video shows us you can do with water
Understanding the Aging Process of Our Body Parts
Find out how every organ and body part in our body changes with age.
Incredible New Bionic Arm Fuses With Woman's Nerves
Karin's bionic hand is real sci fi, making her one of the first true cyborgs.
Incredible: First-Ever Complete Map of an Insect's Brain
This incredible project is the first to completely map the brain of an insect, a monumental undertaking even for such a small creature.
Let's Talk About Size, From Big to Huge.
an incredible discovery that leads us to a better and better understanding of these objects' true size.
Get a Sense of Scale of Just How Big SpaceX's Rockets Are
SpaceX is achieving incredible things in space, however it's difficult to picture just how big their rockets are. Take a look...
10 Classic Paradoxes fom Philosophy, Math, and Physics
in every sphere of human knowledge, we’re bound to run into inconsistencies. That’s how fascinating paradoxes like these are born.
This Incredible Documentary Takes You Into the Human Body
A beautiful and graphically advanced animation sheds light on the mysteries of the human body.
Travel From the Sun to Pluto With Our Interactive Guide!
The solar system is a fascinating place, and we wanted to bring you an interactive journey that you can use to travel through it. Enjoy the journey!
What Metals Do We Mine the Most? This Graph Shows All!
Did you know the world mined 2.8 billion tonnes of metals in 2021? Let’s discover what metals we mined the most.
This Mind-Blowing Talk Explores the Nature of Reality
In this video, cognitive scientist, Donald Hoffman, attempts to answer this mind-blowing question in this incredible TED talk.