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Wonder material graphene aerogel – which is so light it can balance on top of a flower – could be used to make parachutes for aeroplane passengers.

Professor Gao Chao, who developed the material with a team of researchers from Zhejiang University in China,  said parachutes made with graphene aerogel could one day become standard safety equipment on civilian aeroplanes.

If EasyJet and Ryanair - who are well known for being conservative with weight – added parachutes for all passengers on their 300-seat Boeing 777 jet – it would only add an extra 60kg.

Light as a flower: Graphene aerogel - the world's lightest material - could be used to make parachutes for passengers on civilian aeroplanes

The sponge-like matter is made of freeze-dried carbon and graphene oxide and is the lightest solid material in the world.

Prof Chao reckons a parachute made from graphene aerogel would weigh less than a T-shirt.

He said the parachutes might bring passengers peace of mind on a flight, and in the event of an accident, they could even save lives.

If graphene aerogel parachutes were installed on a Boeing 777 it would only add an extra 60kg to the aeroplane weight

Prof Chao told the South China Morning Post: 'If the plane disintegrated in mid-air, like if it were hit by a missile, the parachutes would give some passengers a chance of survival. Those with flight panic may also find mental relief by wearing a parachute throughout a flight.'

But he added that the aerogel would need to be made stronger and hardier before the material could be used for parachutes.

He said: 'I am optimistic that these technological constraints can be overcome.'
Chao also reported that in the future graphene aerogel could even be used to make clothes.

He said: 'Some manufacturers have contacted us to develop a new type of clothing with the technology.'