A paper-thin ceramic coating, originally developed by NASA to stop space
shuttles from bursting into flames when re-entering the atmosphere, could soon
stop houses from burning down here on Earth. The coating, which can survive
temperatures of up to 1600 °C, enables the shuttle’s tiles to radiate heat
more efficiently. Now Wessex, a firm based in Virginia, has has applied the
coating to wood and other materials to prevent them catching fire. “The results
on wood are remarkable,” says Heather Thomas, Wessex’s marketing director.
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
There has been a sudden increase in the rate of sea level rise
2
Man destined for Alzheimer's may have been saved by accidental therapy
3
Woman in cancer remission without treatment in highly unusual case
4
A lost ancient script reveals how writing as we know it really began
5
Pressure from individual particles measured for the first time
6
The mathematician who doesn’t exist
7
US government releases huge batch of UFO files
8
Fire is spreading in the Chernobyl exclusion zone after drone crash
9
Neanderthal 'kneeprint' found next to mysterious stalagmite circle
10
Exclusive report: Inside Chernobyl, 40 years after nuclear disaster
