Ending the debate as to whether glass is a solid or a liquid, glass research duo Edgar Zanotto and John Mauro have proposed a new definition—describing a non-crystalline state of matter that continually relaxes toward the liquid state.
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The automotive industry is speeding toward an electric car future. Beyond the drivers influencing these changes, there are some important factors that are actually enabling this shift to take place—and at their heart is materials science and engineering.
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There are many elements critical to today’s technology that are in danger of running out—and they’re the subject of a fascinating new BBC TV documentary called “Secrets of the Super Elements” hosted by Mark Miodownik.
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The refractory community met at UNITECR 2017 in Santiago, Chile, the last week of September. Raw material prices and trends, as well as advances in technology, were at the forefront.
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There’s a looming sand scarcity that’s being hidden by the mirage of endless sand supply, according to the authors of a new perspective article published in Science. According to their research, sand scarcity is such an imminent threat that we now need to develop a global sand governance strategy.
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Researchers report a simple method to manufacture biocompatible structural colors using only melanin and silica. The silica shell provides a buffer layer of tunable thickness that allows customization of the particular color, offering the potential to fabricate a new breed of long-lasting pigments that don’t fade.
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Environmental concerns and decreased demand have contributed to the decline of coal as a fuel source. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory is developing value-added products that may eventually revive the coal industry.
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Scientists at the University of California, San Diego have developed a method called water-assisted flash sintering that can densify powders to 98% of theoretical density in just 30 seconds. Their method takes place at room temperature and requires no external heating.
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ceramitec 2018 is an international meeting place for the ceramics industry. Held April 10–13, 2018, in Munich, Germany, ceramitec brings together researchers, scientists, exhibitors, and students from around the world to discuss the latest trends and challenges in the ceramics industry.
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According to a laboratory compositional analysis, the elemental recipe for a 129-g Apple iPhone includes about 24.1% aluminum, 15.4% carbon, 14.4% iron, and 14.5% oxygen by weight. And altogether, that pile of smartphone powder—ground from a $700 device—has a raw elemental value of about $1.03.
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