NightHawkInLight shows how to make ultra-white radiative paint that cools surfaces below ambient temperature without electricity. He walks through the research papers and the household-materials process.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN points to it as a practical, well-researched DIY demonstration of passive radiative cooling.
“This YouTuber[0] does an excellent job recreating chemistry research from papers and improving on the techniques to be accomplished with household materials.”HN comment, 2023
“This YouTuber[0] does an excellent job recreating chemistry research from papers and improving on the techniques to be accomplished with household materials.”
Recreates chemistry research from papers using household materials
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This YouTuber[0] does an excellent job recreating chemistry research from papers and improving on the techniques to be accomplished with household materials. He documents his failures and takes an empirical approach to arriving at his successes. I’m not sure of his background, but it’s certainly research that he’s doing. Watching his channel always reminds me that the scientific method does not have “first obtain an expensive degree” as one of its steps. [0] this video
RecommendsslimsagApr 2023
“have been working on Infrared Cooling Paint for almost a year now and have been detailing how individuals can make it at home”
Home-made infrared cooling paint process
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Two YouTube researchers[0][1] (they make science content that is very much not in the traditional form of YouTube) have been working on Infrared Cooling Paint for almost a year now and have been detailing how individuals can make it at home (although a fairly involved/lengthy process today.) There's definitely something here, hopefully someone sells it pre-made, I'd love to try some. [0] this video [1] link
Recommendsenerg8Jun 2025
“there are a couple good videos about it from NightHawkInLight”
Good video on passive radiative cooling paint
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It's a thing in from thousands of years ago link and today link for PDRC there are a couple good videos about it from NightHawkInLight this video , link and Tech Ingredients linklink
RecommendsjcimsDec 2025
“It has pretty impressive performance.”
DIY radiative cooling paint with impressive performance
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DIY radiative cooling paint from YouTuber NightHawkInLight - this video It has pretty impressive performance. Tech Ingredients did one or two vids as well - link Was thinking of whipping up a batch for my rv.
Cites itspyderJul 2022
“Here is a YouTuber trying to making such paint”
YouTuber making paint that cools below ambient temperature
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And for a better effect they could use paint that can cool below the ambient temperature by radiating infrared to space (if they aren't already using that, but it's probably more expensive): link Here is a YouTuber trying to making such paint: this video Another article: link
Cites itjcimsMar 2023
“Couple of videos explaining the effect”
Explains passive cooling below ambient temperature
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>Only active cooling can cool anything below the ambient temperature. Not exactly: link Couple of videos explaining the effect this videolink
