Posts by Lisa McDonald
Sports-quality ice: From pond side to precision Olympic engineering
Enjoying the 2026 Olympic Winter Games? This CTT looks at the ways in which ice properties are manipulated to provide the ideal surfaces for a variety of winter rink sports.
Read MoreOther materials stories that may be of interest for February 11, 2026
New type of magnetism in 2D materials, tool for visualizing hydrogen fuels, and other materials stories that may be of interest for Feb. 11, 2026.
Read MoreRoom for error: Glass photonics maintain performance despite imperfections due to single-mode light manipulation
Despite its low refractive index, silica glass can sometimes rival high-refractive-index materials in reflectance if fabricated with enough repeating units and structural uniformity. Researchers at Harvard SEAS showed silica glass can accommodate a fair number of structural imperfections and still achieve this good optical performance.
Read MoreCeramic and glass business news of the week for February 9, 2026
QuantumScape inaugurates Eagle Line for solid-state battery pilot production, South Dakota Mines partners with INL on AI-driven project to cut energy use, and more ceramic and glass business news of the week for Feb. 9, 2026.
Read MoreContemporary botanical glasswork: The exquisite flora of Debora Moore
Many artists have used glass to capture the ephemeral beauty of nature. Contemporary glass artist Debora Moore uses her skills to create botanical models of flora she has seen on her travels around the world.
Read MoreOther materials stories that may be of interest for February 4, 2026
Underwater 3D printing, naturally formed single-walled carbon nanotubes, and other materials stories that may be of interest for Feb. 4, 2026.
Read MoreThe molecular masonry of the Ming Dynasty: How sticky rice leads to ceramic success
During China’s Ming Dynasty, a special mixture of slaked lime and sticky rice was used as mortar. The structures bonded together using this unique mortar demonstrate exceptional durability and offer lessons for modern sustainable construction.
Read MoreCeramic and glass business news of the week for February 2, 2026
More than 1,100 miles of dark fiber to link AI hubs in Texas and beyond, Kenya’s first chipmaker caught in superpower crossfire, and more ceramic and glass business news of the week for Feb. 2, 2026.
Read MoreSolid-state batteries turn heads at CES 2026
After years of hype, solid-state batteries are on the cusp of a market revolution, as demonstrated by several companies at CES 2026 that presented solid-state battery technologies for various applications.
Read MoreOther materials stories that may be of interest for January 28, 2026
Antimony chalcogenide solar cells for space applications, new shortcut to quantum materials, and other materials stories that may be of interest for Jan. 28, 2026.
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