Through a mirror, darkly: Here's how to make a real-world black mirror
A black mirror may sound like an oxymoron. After all, if something is black it means it's absorbing all the light and if something is a mirror it's reflecting all the light. But YouTuber and Scientist The Action Lab actually manages to make a black mirror.
He starts out with black mirror paint which he tests out to see exactly what it entails. That alone is fun to watch as the paint cover surfaces with sheer blackness.
The YouTuber then share how he noticed that he could make the black paint reflect a bit back if he covered it with something glossy. But that wasn't enough for him. He wanted something that had 100% reflectivity.
To achieve this near-impossible task, he takes a mirror and burns it on the light of a candle until it becomes black. Then he takes this same piece of mirror and puts it in water. When seen from a certain angle the black mirror is 100% reflective.
What is the science behind the experiment? How can a mirror covered in soot be 100% reflective? What other experiments does the YouTuber derive from this one? This video answers all these questions and more, so make sure not to miss it.