Lisa McDonald

Rechargeable cement-based batteries could reform the built environment

By Lisa McDonald / May 21, 2021

As renewable energy technologies become more widely deployed, we need a way to store all of the generated energy. Two researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden explored creating a cement capable of storing energy, an ability that would allow future buildings to essentially serve as giant batteries.

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United Nations approves 2022 as the International Year of Glass

By Lisa McDonald / May 20, 2021

The United Nations General Assembly approved the formal resolution to declare 2022 as the International Year of Glass! Read the statement from Alicia Durán, president of the International Commission on Glass and chair of IYOG2022.

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Video: Cryptocurrency and the need for more energy-efficient computing

By Lisa McDonald / May 19, 2021

Cryptocurrency is a hot topic among investors this past year, but its environmental impact and role in ransomware is cause for serious discussion about the future of this digital asset. Learn more about cryptocurrency and how new technologies can make mining it more energy efficient.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By Lisa McDonald / May 19, 2021

Domino-like crystallization of glass, causes of concrete and asphalt deterioration, and other materials stories that may be of interest for May 19, 2021.

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‘Molecular glue’ enhances perovskite solar cell reliability

By Lisa McDonald / May 18, 2021

Perovskite solar cells struggle with long-term reliability due to their love–hate relationship with the sun. Brown University researchers explored using self-assembled monolayers to “glue” interfaces within the cells and thus make the cells more efficient, stable, and reliable.

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Ceramic and glass business news of the week for May 17, 2021

By Lisa McDonald / May 17, 2021

Ferro Corporation to be acquired by Prince International Corporation, International Year of Glass 2022 set for UN approval, and more ceramic and glass business news of the week for May 17, 2021.

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Reverse engineering complements stylistic and iconographic analyses of ceramic figurines in southwest Colombia

By Lisa McDonald / May 14, 2021

Figurines created by people of the Tumaco-La Tolita culture give insight into their ancient society and ideology. Researchers in Colombia and the United Kingdom investigated use of a reverse engineering framework to complement conventional stylistic and iconographic analyses of these figurines.

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Video: Designing concrete trumpets using 3D printing

By Lisa McDonald / May 12, 2021

Wind instruments can be made from an array of materials because the sound depends mainly on how the air is shaped rather than the instrument’s body. Learn how a German mechanical engineer used 3D printing to design a trumpet out of concrete.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By Lisa McDonald / May 12, 2021

IBM unveils first 2 nm chip technology, ‘molecular glue’ for perovskite solar cells, and other materials stories that may be of interest for May 12, 2021.

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Ceramic and glass business news of the week for May 10, 2021

By Lisa McDonald / May 10, 2021

BMW and Ford invest in Solid Power to secure all-solid-state batteries, ACerS UK Chapter meetup on sustainable ceramics manufacturing, and more ceramic and glass business news of the week for May 10, 2021.

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