Skyshell Shells

The toughened inner shell of a Skyshell is a porous substance that is 99.9% air, and 0.1% the actual material. Skyshells use a vascular system running throughout their shells to inflate and deflate with hydrogen and sometimes Helium. This gives the Skyshells the ability to be much lighter than air. It isn't flammable at all (unless lightning strikes it and it isn't drained of its hydrogen) and has remarkable thermal dissipation properties. The shells seemingly have similar properties to Silica based aerogels but are quite a bit tougher.

Native to the planet Collena, the Regalti have been taking advantage of this material for thousands of years.

An issue with this material is that it is naturally occuring and is produces by animas. Regalti technolgy also grew progressivly more dependent on it. Because of this, it nearly led to the extinction of Skyshells, which made it rather urgent that an alternative material was developed. So much Regalti technology was based around the aerogel-like substance that they would be set back a hundred years if they used all the naturally occuring materials. Eventually, good substitutes were discovered, which allowed Regalti technology to continue progressing.

Origins: Skyshells
Rarity: Rare, used to be Common.
Cost: Expensive, used to be Cheap.

Color: Colorless (appears violet due to refraction of light)
Taste/Odor: None
Boiling Point: None Known
Freezing/Melting Point: None Known
Density: Extremely low Density. 99% Air
Toxicity:Non-Toxic.

Summary of Uses: Thermal Insulation, clothing, flotation devices, armor, aircraft/spacecraft materials, food.

Uses

- Thermal Insulation

Early Regalti hunter-gatherers would take the shells of dead Skyshells and use them for thermal insulation in the winter. Later when civilization developed and metals were being worked, pieces would be cut up and used in clothing. Later civilizations would use it as insulation material in aircraft and spacecraft.

- As Boats

Early Regalti civilization worked the shells into circular shaped boats. They would seal the underside with a thick substance that wouldn't get into the porous structure, usually it was tar. Cutting the shells and turning them into canoes was also done. They would cut slits at the ends, sew them, then cover it with tar. Later civilization worked them into a more hydrodynamic boat-like shape and used them for sailing.

- As Armor

Cutting the shells into triangle shaped scales and then sewing them to a piece of cloth or leather, or by layering multiple thinner portions of the shells, Ragalti civilization was able to make quite an effective armor against blades. It wasn't as useful against arrows and later firearms.

Later Regalti civilization cut the shells into very thin sections (10mm) and then layered it with metals and woven synthetic materials like aramid fibers, creating an extremely effective personal lightweight body armor that could block just about any attack. It could protect against multiple shots of small arms fire up to a 12.7mm round.

Regalti also used this material for armor in their tanks, layering the material with heavy metals like uranium, ceramics, and more. These tanks were so effective that their own munitions couldn't destroy each other.

Haeckel-Chrysaora-hysoscella by Ernst Haeckel

- As a lightweight material

Later Regalti civilization use it as material in aircraft, spacecraft, and boats. The material was so light that it was a relatively painless process for this civilization to get into space.

- As Food

In its unprepared state, the shells of skyshells can be consumed and digested rather easily. This material is super tough, but it falls apart easily in stronger acids like those found in the stomach. The issue is that this material has a low nutritional value. What can be absorbed are small amounts of sugars and proteins found throughout the outer structure.

- As water and air filters

When prepared a certain way, this material allows only water to pass through, but captures nearly every other element. This makes it great for filtering heavy metals out of water. It can also filter organic matter and toxins. It is often used in space in combination with an Algae Bioreactor to constantly recycle water throughout the journey.

This material can be prepared in anumber of way to accept only specific elements and molecules to pass through while blocking or diverting other molecules to different areas. Oxygen recyclers in some personal spacesuits use a type of filter derived from Skyshell shells, as do the oxygen recyclers in spacecraft like the Starship Void Chaser.

Algae Bioreactor and Water Storage

((I'll think of more as I think of them))