Posts by Lisa McDonald
Closer look at spider ‘signal threads’ could lead to advances in remote sensing technology
Scientists at the University of Oxford in England are studying the composition of spider web “signal threads” for inspiration when it comes to developing new advances in remote sensing technology.
Read MoreCeramics and glass business news of the week
Alcoa moves to reduce alumina production, MesoCoat tug-o-war is over, and more ceramics and glass business news of the week for January 15, 2016.
Read MoreGoing green: ACerS member pioneers sustainable approach for high-purity silica production
University of Michigan researcher and ACerS member Richard Laine is pioneering a new approach to reduce, reuse, and recycle—his technique for production of high-purity silica reduces energy consumption while simultaneously utilizing agricultural waste.
Read MoreVideo: Could solar panels provide the world’s entire energy needs?
“Is it possible that one day the world could be completely reliant on solar energy?” TED-Ed answer that question by diving into the science behind solar cells in a new explainer video that focuses on the atomic happenings within a silicon solar cell.
Read MoreOther materials stories that may be of interest
Ceramic foam fights fires, solar energy from trashed batteries, and other materials stories that may be of interest for January 13, 2016.
Read MoreDon’t fail me now: Gadgets that add significant juice to your iPhone battery
Tech trends for 2016 seem focused on evolutionary rather than revolutionary. With that in mind, Apple released a new smartphone case that promises to extend battery life—but form may have been sacrificed for function.
Read MoreNew 3-D printing process creates harder, stronger ceramics that can stand the heat
The latest breakthrough in 3-D printed ceramics comes from researchers at HRL Laboratories LLC, in Malibu, Calif. The team developed a process that “overcomes the limits of traditional ceramic processing and enables high-temperature, high-strength ceramic components,” according to a HRL news release.
Read MoreBioglass goes big: Bioactive glass repairs large bone defects
A team of researchers from Shanghai Jiaotong University and Tongji University in China and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab in Calif. has developed a technique for producing bioglass scaffolds that alone can successfully repair large defects in load-bearing bones.
Read More‘Martian concrete’ could be key to future human colonization on Mars
If we’re going to colonize Mars someday, we’ll need to build durable structures to shelter us from the elements. Materials scientists at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., have developed a concrete material using only what’s available on the red planet and without using water.
Read MoreCeramics and glass business news of the week
Ceramco launches online ceramic fastener portal, Versum Materials logo revealed, and more ceramics and glass business news of the week for January 8, 2016.
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