Solar technology has been advancing since its widespread use starting in the 1960’s. But other technologies and materials have also been breaking ground as we progress into the future.

Demonstration of magnetic behavior of ferrofluid.

A ferrofluid is a stable colloidal suspension of sub-domain magnetic particles in a liquid carrier.
The particles, which have an average size of about 100Å (10 nm), are coated with a stabilizing dispersing agent (surfactant) which prevents particle agglomeration even when a strong magnetic field gradient is applied to the ferrofluid.
Ferrofluid technology is well established and capable of solving a wide variety of technical problems. There are many successful applications of this engineering material and there is immense future potential.
In many applications, ferrofluid is an active component that contributes towards the enhanced performance of the device.
These devices are either mechanical (e.g., seals, bearings and dampers) or electromechanical (e.g., loudspeakers, stepper motors and sensors) in nature.
In other cases, ferrofluid is employed simply as a material for nondestructive testing of other components such as magnetic tapes, stainless steels and turbine blades.
When correctly applied, Ferrofluid can produce dramatic improvements in a products’ performance;
or achieve a level of performance unattainable by any other technology or product.

Aerogel is the lightest solid material on the planet.

It looks like frozen smoke. And it’s the lightest solid material on the planet.
Aerogel insulates space suits, makes tennis rackets stronger and could be used one day
to clean up oil spills.

Properties of a non-Newtonian fluid.

A non-Newtonian fluid is a fluid whose viscosity is variable based on applied stress.
The most commonly known non-Newtonian fluid is cornstarch dissolved in water.
Contrast with Newtonian fluids like water, whose behavior can be described exclusively by temperature and pressure, not the forces acting on it from second to second.
Non-Newtonian fluids are fascinating substances that can be used to help us understand physics
in more detail, in an exciting, hands-on way.
In the video above a pool is filled with a mix of cornstarch and water made on a concrete mixer
truck. It becomes a non-newtonian fluid. When stress is applied to the liquid it exhibits properties
of a solid.

See some of those new materials that hint of the things from science fiction HERE.