http://ceramics.org/ceramictechtoday Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:08:24 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en [caption id="attachment_6185" align="aligncenter" width="220" caption="Deltaker, S.A. tile. Credit: ASCER"][/caption] The Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association (ASCER) says it is working with the Harvard Graduate School of Design on a one-year research effort to explore the best ways to meet the increasing challenges of product customization, adjustment to buyers’ preferences, and sustainability ... http://ceramics.org/ceramictechtoday/construction/spanish-tilemakers-and-harvard-to-work-on-ceramic-futures-project/ [caption id="attachment_6180" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Power-generating rubber films developed by Princeton University engineers could harness natural body movements such as breathing and walking to power pacemakers, mobile phones and other electronic devices."][/caption] Researchers at Princeton University have demonstrated that high performance piezoelectric ceramics can be transferred onto rubber or plastic, ... http://ceramics.org/ceramictechtoday/materials-innovations/electricity-harvesting-with-silicone-implants/ I received some additional information about Carlo Pantano's presentation on "The Art of Science of Glass" that will be held at 12 noon, March 26, 2010 at Penn State University. Don't expect a formal and technical lecture. Instead, Pantano's presentation/conversation is part of Penn State's ongoing "Unplugged" luncheon series that is ... http://ceramics.org/ceramictechtoday/materials-innovations/pantano-to-discuss-the-art-science-interface-of-glass-march-26/ [flash http://ceramics.org/ceramictechtoday/wp-content/video/aspen_aerogel_demo.flv mode=1 f={image=/ceramictechtoday/wp-content/video/aspen_aerogel_demo.jpg}] GreenTech reported that some aerogel companies are offering thin blankets that serve as replacements for traditional fiberglass, foam or cellulose insulation. It's still more expensive upfront but the costs have fallen to the point that it can make sense in certain cases, particularly masonry ... http://ceramics.org/ceramictechtoday/materials-innovations/video-of-the-week-1-aerogel-insulation-hits-housing-market/ The DOE announced that 24 million hours of supercomputing time out of a total of 1.6 billion available at Argonne and Oak Ridge National Labs have been awarded to investigate materials for developing lithium-air batteries that would be capable of powering a car for 500 miles on a single charge. Through ... http://ceramics.org/ceramictechtoday/materials-innovations/doe-dedicates-24m-supercomputing-hours-for-lithium%e2%80%93air-batteries/ Hey NASA! I, too, will fill out a questionnaire about your new fancy-dancy Stardust-NExT site if you send me a little chunk of aerogel to play with. http://ceramics.org/ceramictechtoday/materials-innovations/survey-envy/ If you liked the post below, I urge you to check out the KINETICA 2009 video. It's full of demonstrations of kinetic art that depend on electronics, sensors, glass, steel and a variety of technical materials. (Sorry, but there is no direct link to the video: after clicking on the ... http://ceramics.org/ceramictechtoday/materials-mind-candy/more-kineticmaterials-art/ Ocean of Light from squidsoup on Vimeo. Squidsoup is back! Titled "Oceans of Light," this time, the groups latest artwork is made by using reconfigured video-wall technology to create a walk-through 3D grid of LEDs. The idea is to create an immersed experience of light-based visualisations in three physical dimensions. They ... http://ceramics.org/ceramictechtoday/ceramic-video/monday-materials-mind-candy-6/ Obama spoke about a renewed push for nuclear-based energy solutions in his SOTU speech, and Friday DOE Secretary Chu announced the appointment of the "Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future." The misnamed commission is supposed to provide "advice and make recommendations on issues including alternatives for the storage, processing, ... http://ceramics.org/ceramictechtoday/energy-environment/doe-names-nuke-waste-commission/ Kristen has posted a video, too! http://ceramics.org/ceramictechtoday/materials-innovations/brosnan-reports-ema-conference/