Jessica McMathis

Spending at nation’s federal R&D centers down—again

By Jessica McMathis / May 7, 2015

The majority of the nation’s federally-funded R&D centers slashed spending in fiscal year 2013 by more than $1 billion over the previous year.

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Better together—Boosting American clean energy manufacturing through pairing national labs and industry

By Jessica McMathis / May 4, 2015

The Department of Energy, like the rest of us, wants U.S. clean energy manufacturing to be more competitive. It’s why the DOE has launched a $2-million Technologist in Residence pilot designed to increase competitiveness and allow our national labs to make a greater commercial impact through strengthened lab-industry partnerships.

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LED jacket offers cyclists turn-signaling safety swag

By Jessica McMathis / April 27, 2015

Bike rides could be brighter and safer, thanks to an LED jacket that helps cyclists signal and be seen.

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MIT celebrates contributions of ceramics, glass, and W. David Kingery with lab reopening

By Jessica McMathis / April 23, 2015

MIT’s materials science and engineering department celebrates the reopening of the W. David Kingery Ceramics and Glass Laboratory (nee MIT Glass Lab). According to an MIT news release, the renovation not only adds more space but new equipment, increased safety features, and improved ventilation systems.

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It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s clay?—Clay captures carbon ‘just as effectively’ as more costly materials

By Jessica McMathis / April 21, 2015

According to research from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, clay stands poised to save the world from environmental evils (a.k.a. greenhouses gases) and gets the job done “just as effectively as other materials.”

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Final report from ACerS-endorsed Diversity Summit now available online

By Jessica McMathis / April 20, 2015

A final report and toolkit from the 2014 Diversity in the Minerals, Metals, and Materials Professions (DMMM1) summit is now available.

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Cool roofs reign in warm-weather climates, but which roof performs best in the cold?

By Jessica McMathis / April 16, 2015

We’ve been told which kinds of roofs (green, white, and otherwise) perform best in warm climates and are most cost-effective, but which roof performs best in cold climates?

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Ceramics Expo 2015

Ceramics Expo exhibitor spotlight: Zircoa

By Jessica McMathis / April 15, 2015

Over the next weeks, we’ll preview a handful of the 150-plus manufacturers and suppliers who have signed on for the first Ceramics Expo. Today, we turn the pre-show spotlight to Zircoa

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DOE reinforces commitment to lighter, more efficient automobiles with $259M Alcoa loan

By Jessica McMathis / April 13, 2015

The Obama administration hopes to achieve more efficient and affordable vehicles through a conditional commitment to Alcoa for a $259-million loan—the first issued under the Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loan program.

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First and largest 3-D printed cement structure blooms at UC Berkeley campus

By Jessica McMathis / April 9, 2015

Cool Brick designer and University of California, Berkeley assistant professor Ronald Rael is turning heads once more with Bloom—the “first and largest powder-based 3-D printed cement structure to date.”

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