An ambient pressure, low cycle time method for the synthesis and manufacture of a low cost, highly insulting, highly translucent, and low density transition metal-based hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanogel. The important aspects are the method of synthesis, the stage of imparting hydrophobicity, and the process of manufacture. The method comprises the steps of mixing a chilled precursor solution with a chilled catalyst solution such that the mixture has a pH of between 9.5 and 12.2. The mixture is maintained at a temperature of 34.degree. F.-55.degree. F. for between 1 and 120 minutes to form a gel. The gel is silated the gel for about 120 minutes, washed in a wash fluid, then dried and annealed to form the aerogel.