I'm wearing black until I find something darker.

All you horn-rimmed glasses, turtle-neck wearing, T-square wielding, mac-loving, spray-mount stinkin' arty folk rejoice. There's a new black in town, which is blacker than black.
The washingtonpost reports that "Black is getting blacker."

Researchers in New York reported this month that they have created a paper-thin material that absorbs 99.955 percent of the light that hits it, making it by far the darkest substance ever made -- about 30 times as dark as the government's current standard for blackest black.
...
The newest black -- which when held next to something conventionally black, such as a tuxedo jacket, is noticeably blacker -- reflects just 0.045 percent of visible light.
...
The material, made of hollow fibers, is a Roach Motel for photons -- light checks in, but it never checks out. By voraciously sucking up all surrounding illumination, it can give those who gaze on it a dizzying sensation of nothingness.

Better clear the closet from all the jet black, matt black (btw, there's an Art Director named Matt Black in Oz who promised to name his son Jet), antracit, asphalt, charcoal and black to make room for the new black. Wonder what we shall call it?

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Wendall's picture

So, what happens if it reflects no light?

Imanaddy's picture

That's so awesome I think I just wet my pants.

Dabitch's picture

Known as transformation optics, the phenomenon compels some wavelengths of light to flow around an object like water around a stone. As a result, things behind the object become visible while the object itself disappears from view.

*little shrieks of pure joy*

Wendall's picture

So it would go invisible? It's what I thought. I'm sure clothing made of transparent black material will be all the rage in 20 years.

Imanaddy's picture

"It's so ... black!'' said Ford Prefect, "You can hardly make out its shape... light just seems to fall into it!''

Zaphod said nothing. He had simply fallen in love.

The blackness of it was so extreme that it was almost impossible to tell how close you were standing to it.

"Your eyes just slide off it...'' said Ford in wonder. It was an emotional moment. He bit his lip.

Zaphod moved forward to it, slowly, like a man possessed --- or more accurately like a man who wanted to possess.

Allan1's picture

Maybe we should call it "Hotblack Desiato" after the owner of the vehicle that Zaphod lusts after...

(You know, the guys that's dead for a year - for tax purposes)...
Allan...
"Remember, no matter where you go... There you are." (Buckaroo Banzai).
"Hey, barkeep, 2 Rock Over Hip-Hops and 1 Bach Over Vivaldi with ice."

Dabitch's picture

Ok, so who's not a HHGTTG fan here? I am, even made sure to give birth 20:42, yup.

Allan1's picture

I taped (from PBS) 2 differently parceled versions of the BBC TV series (one with 5 episodes, and the other with 6 episodes - both containing the same material), and I have the double LP from the Radio Series.

Of course, I have several editions of all of the books, including one of the "complete" collections of all 5 books (which also included Young Zaphod Plays it Safe).

I haven't seen the movie version - I'm waiting to find the Widescreen version in the $5.00 bin. (;-))

I don't have the comics - but, buried somewhere in my storage area, is the PC version of the Infocom game - on a 5.25" floppy disk (back when the whole package was actually floppy).

Allan...
"Remember, no matter where you go... There you are." (Buckaroo Banzai).
"Hey, barkeep, 2 Rock Over Hip-Hops and 1 Bach Over Vivaldi with ice."

Imanaddy's picture

Yeah pretty soon Harry Potter and Zaphod won't be the only ones wearing invisibility cloaks. You think it's hard to find the *%&€# creatives in the creative department today? Ha! Just you wait, dear Traffic People. Just you wait.

Dabitch's picture

More than ten years later and I am still amused when I see this comment