1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,000 Wow, this is neat. 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:04,000 Are we in the right place? 3 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:05,000 Well, you're in the right place. 4 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:11,000 I'm Dr. Joycelyn Harrison, and I work here in the Advanced Materials and Processing Branch at NASA Langley Research Center. 5 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:16,000 But since you guys are in the lab, could you do me a favor and put these safety glasses on? 6 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:19,000 We have to always remember to use safety first. 7 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:25,000 Well, we're trying to solve the problem of making our bikes more visible at night, and we want to use reflective materials. 8 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,000 We were hoping you could help us. 9 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,000 Do you know anything about reflective materials? 10 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:33,000 Yes, here at NASA Langley, we do research on developing reflective plastics. 11 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:38,000 Here's an example of a reflective plastic film that we developed right here. 12 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,000 Wow, this is really lightweight. 13 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,000 This would look really cool on our bike. 14 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,000 How do you make it? 15 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:49,000 Well, we start off with this clear polymer solution that has metal ions dissolved in it. 16 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:54,000 And then we pour it on these glass plates, and then we bake it in these big ovens. 17 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,000 You bake here? 18 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:59,000 Yes, actually, chemists do bake, but we call it curing. 19 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:07,000 While curing, the metal ions in the material migrate to the surface of the material, and we end up with a very reflective plastic. 20 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:10,000 Wow, I thought that only metals were reflective. 21 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,000 Why does NASA use reflective plastics? 22 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:17,000 Well, you guys come with me, and I'll show you an example of how NASA uses materials just like this. 23 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,000 Come on. 24 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,000 What is this? I've never seen anything like this before. 25 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,000 It's so tall. 26 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,000 This is a reflective antenna. 27 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:34,000 Actually, it would have to be about five times larger than this to be used in space. 28 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:41,000 NASA puts antennas like this in space to collect energy or signals for communications and scientific measurements. 29 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:43,000 Why does it have to be so shiny? 30 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:48,000 It needs to be reflective so that we can focus the energy to where we want it to go, 31 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:52,000 like to a location on Earth or to a science instrument on a satellite, for example. 32 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,000 We really need reflective materials, too. 33 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,000 We're trying to make our bikes safer at night. 34 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,000 I don't think we could build anything like that. 35 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,000 Do you have any suggestions for our bike? 36 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,000 Well, what kind of things do you think could help you see your bikes at night? 37 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:11,000 We had a brainstorming session and came up with a few ideas, like stickers, maybe paint. 38 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:17,000 Yes, but just make sure that those lights and stickers are reflective so that the light will bounce off them. 39 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,000 You might also consider using some reflective gear. 40 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:21,000 Gear? 41 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:25,000 Yes, like reflective vests, helmets, or even tennis shoes. 42 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:26,000 We'll get started. 43 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:27,000 Thanks for your help. 44 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,000 We really appreciate it. 45 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:30,000 Bye, Dr. Harrison.