silica

Video: Silica, a common food additive, may be chemically reactive

By Lisa McDonald / September 27, 2023

The increasing use of nanoparticles across all sectors has led to some concerns within the food industry, as nanoparticles do not necessarily behave the same way as their larger counterparts. A new study by Stanford University researchers showed that mesoporous silica, a common food additive, can react with key biomolecules, which could lead to increased oxidative stress in the body.

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The science of Elemental—tempered glass and causes of failure

By Lisa McDonald / July 7, 2023

In the new movie Elemental, the fire character Ember uses tempered glass to patch a hole in the canal wall. But could glass be used in real life to hold back flood water? Today’s CTT considers this question and what could cause tempered glass to fail.

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Nanoscale bottles protect fatty acid payloads

By Lisa McDonald / August 23, 2019

Fatty acids, although biodegradable and biocompatible, experience poor dispersibility and stability under physiological conditions, hindering their application as drug-carrying materials. Researchers at Georgia Tech and Shandong University created silica-based nanocapsules that safely carry drug-containing fatty acids to a targeted destination.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By Lisa McDonald / November 28, 2018

Sulphur-based batteries, ceramics for fire-resistant cladding core, and other materials stories that may be of interest for November 28, 2018.

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Ceramic and glass business news of the week

By Faye Oney / August 31, 2018

Daicel offering free nanodiamonds to researchers, Murata invests in MEMS sensor manufacturing, and more ceramic and glass business news of the week for August 31, 2018.

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Sea sponges use protein filament to pattern silica deposition and build intricate glass spicules

By April Gocha / October 24, 2017

New research shows that sea sponges use an internal protein filament to catalyze silica deposition, ultimately determining the shape of their uniquely structured glass spicules.

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Looming threat of sand scarcity is masked by mirage of a nearly limitless natural resource

By April Gocha / October 3, 2017

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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Video: Silica layer enables tuning of structural colors for biocompatible pigments that don’t fade in tattoos, paints, foods, and more

By April Gocha / September 20, 2017

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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Sea sponges resist buckling by building optimally engineered glass toothpicks

By April Gocha / January 24, 2017

Researchers at Brown University have taken a closer look at the orange puffball sea sponge’s silica spicules and found that they, too, have evolved a precisely engineered design that provides the structures with maximal strength.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By April Gocha / October 5, 2016

Harnessing possibilities of the nanoworld, food additive boosts solar cells, and other materials stories that may be of interest for October 5, 2016.

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