The Lightest Solid on Earth: Can Aerogel Rethink How We Build?” – Ep 83 with Peter Pescatore

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Peter Pescatore, Global Commercial Lead at Cabot Corporation, for a deep dive into one of the most fascinating materials in building science: aerogel. Often called "frozen smoke," this super-light, ultra-insulating material has captivated engineers and designers for decades—but is still flying under the radar in mainstream construction.Peter breaks down how aerogel works on a microscopic level, its unique ability to diffuse daylight while achieving R values up to four times higher than traditional insulation (with a U-value as low as 0.28 W/m²K), and its surprisingly diverse use cases—from heritage building retrofits to electric vehicle batteries. They also explore the role aerogel can play in the circular economy and its fire-resistant properties.If you’re passionate about next-gen materials, thermal comfort, or simply want to future-proof your designs, this one’s a must-listen.CONTACT: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cabot-corporationhttps://www.facebook.com/CabotCorporation/https://twitter.com/CabotCorphttps://www.youtube.com/@cabotcorphttps://vimeo.com/cabotcorporation https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-pescatore-ba2baa/Where To Find Us:https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/www.advancedglazings.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcastwww.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625https://twitter.com/bbfhpodhttps://twitter.com/Solera_Daylighthttps://www.instagram.com/bbfhpod/https://www.instagram.com/advancedglazingsltdhttps://www.facebook.com/AdvancedGlazingsltd