Скачать или смотреть "World's Whitest Paint: A Breakthrough That Could Replace Air Conditioners"

Scientists have developed the world's whitest paint, and it has the potential to significantly reduce the need for air conditioning.

Researchers at Purdue University, led by Professor Xiulin Ruan, created this ultra-white paint using a high concentration of barium sulfate particles of different sizes. This unique composition allows the paint to reflect 98.1% of sunlight—much more than the 80–90% reflectivity of standard white paints.

Because it reflects nearly all incoming sunlight and radiates heat away, the paint can cool surfaces below the ambient air temperature even under direct sunlight. For example, applying this paint to a 1,000-square-foot roof can provide cooling power equivalent to 10 kilowatts, which is more powerful than most household air conditioners.

This innovation offers a passive cooling solution that reduces energy consumption, lowers electricity bills, and helps combat climate change by cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions from air conditioning. The Purdue team is currently working with industry partners to make this paint commercially available and accessible for widespread use.