Uses
Aerogels have many uses in today's society, and not just for research. Some have recreational purposes, such as this racquet.
Other interesting uses are in skylights as
insulation or even part of the roof. More intensive research
is being done on the thermal properties to enhance it's uses
as an insulator to replace current methods.
Most
recent development has opened the use of Aerogels in efforts
of oil spill cleanup, fuel cells, thickening agents for paints
and the like, use in clothing and deep-sea divers gear,
supercapacitors, and even water purification.
In research, Aerogel has been
monumental in collecting small particles from comets and from
space. In the picture to the right is the Stardust collector
that was recently used. Each recatangle was full of Aerogel,
and collected dust and other small particles from a passing
comet. (
http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/photo/aerogel.html