In what may be the least dramatic superhero origin story ever, scientists at Purdue University have developed a white paint so brilliant, it makes regular white look beige with self-esteem issues. Billed as the whitest white paint ever created, this new pigment reflects a staggering 98.1 percent of sunlight, roughly the same percentage of optimism exhibited by a Labrador puppy on a sunny day. The paint is so effective at rejecting solar heat that it can actually cool surfaces below ambient temperatures, which is quite the party trick for something you smear on walls.
To accomplish this, researchers did not consult wizards or traffic cones, but rather filled the paint with a high concentration of barium sulfate, a compound more commonly known for playing supporting roles in photo imaging and medical scans. Unlike titanium dioxide, which is the extrovert of the white pigment world but tends to get a bit warm under pressure, barium sulfate maintains a cool composure and comes in particle sizes that scatter sunlight like confetti at a very dull parade. The paint not only reflects visible light, it also emits infrared heat into the frigid void of space, which is the scientific equivalent of slowly ghosting the sun.
Lead researcher Xiulin Ruan, a professor of mechanical engineering who presumably does not own stock in air conditioning companies, explained that the paint’s unparalleled reflectivity means it can lower surface temperatures by 4.5 degrees Celsius below ambient during the day. According to Ruan, replacing air conditioners with this paint on rooftops could result in measurable reductions to global energy usage, although it may also result in a sharp rise in smug building facades.
The team has applied for patents and entered the Guinness World Records, finally giving children everywhere something to aspire to beyond Pokémon collection and YouTube fame. One can only imagine a future filled with buildings coated in paint so pale it practically qualifies as moonlight in solid form.
The sun may shine, but this paint politely declines the invitation.