ScienceNews: The spacecraft of tomorrow may look as svelte as their brethren of the past, thanks to a new type of thermal coating. At the American Chemical Society's annual meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, today, researchers presented evidence that the new material--called a thin-film variable emittance electrochromic device--can protect sensitive electronics from the harsh environment of space, including impacts from micrometeorites. The material could usher in a new generation of tiny, long-lasting spacecraft, experts say.