So, what do we do with this information, and what can people do with this blacker-than-black color?
It could be used to hide diamonds for art, as diamonds are highly reflective. It could also be used in telescopes to reduce glare.
"There are optical and space science applications for very black materials, and of course, artists have been interested in black going back well before the Renaissance," said Brian Wardle, head of the group at MIT. "Our material is 10 times blacker than anything that's ever been reported, but I think the blackest black is a constantly moving target. Someone will find a blacker material, and eventually we'll understand all the underlying mechanisms, and will be able to properly engineer the ultimate black."
Brendan Menapace is the content director for Promo+Promo Marketing.