International

Finnish startup scales sand battery technology to the next level

By Lisa McDonald / March 15, 2024

Finnish startup Polar Night Energy, which developed and installed its first commercial-scale “sand battery” energy storage system in 2022, is now collaborating with Finnish district heating company Loviisan Lämpö to build an industrial-scale sand battery system in Pornainen, Finland.

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Video: 2023 Brick in Architecture Awards showcase the best of brick design

By Lisa McDonald / March 13, 2024

Since 1989, the Brick Industry Association has sponsored the Brick in Architecture Awards to recognize exceptional uses of clay brick in architecture. The 44 global winners for the 2023 awards include entries spanning the United States, Canada, China, and Mexico, plus the first-ever winner in Russia.

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Video: New supply chain strategies aim to secure access to critical resources

By Lisa McDonald / January 24, 2024

In response to global supply chain disruptions, many governments are implementing new programs to ensure continued and secure access to critical resources. Learn about some recent programs that were announced in the past few months.

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Communicating the sustainability crisis: ACerS members help lead the charge for action with new paper, alliance

By Lisa McDonald / January 16, 2024

The world is facing a fundamental sustainability crisis. Scientists have a role to play in not only developing new materials and technologies to combat the crisis but also in communicating about the situation to the public. Several ACerS members have made significant strides in this regard with the release of a new paper and helping to establish a new international alliance.

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Video: Glass ornaments sparkle for the holidays

By Guest Contributor / December 6, 2023

Glass ornaments have played a central role in holiday decorations for almost two centuries. Learn about this history and where to find glass ornaments for this year’s winter celebrations.

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Germany: Building a climate for innovation, plus more inside October/November 2023 ACerS Bulletin

By Lisa McDonald / October 12, 2023

The October/November 2023 issue of the ACerS Bulletin—featuring an overview of research and markets in Germany—is now available online. Plus—inside the nascent market for lead-free and textured piezoceramics.

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Video: Beckon in a fall of good fortune with Japanese maneki-neko

By Lisa McDonald / October 4, 2023

Many cultures have symbols or rituals that are widely viewed as lucky within that society. The maneki-neko, or Japanese “beckoning cat,” is one cultural symbol that has grown to be recognized almost universally as a figure of good luck. Learn about the history of maneki-neko and how to make one for yourself.

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Video: Years of slashed infrastructure spending culminates in crumbling concrete crisis in the UK

By Lisa McDonald / September 20, 2023

Years of slashed infrastructure spending by the U.K.’s Conservative-led government has culminated in a crumbling concrete crisis as buildings constructed out of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete begin to fail after being pushed beyond their intended lifespan.

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Video: Rapid expansion of exploratory licenses in Tasmania worries landowners

By Lisa McDonald / September 13, 2023

The mining and minerals processing industries are economically significant sectors for the Australian island state of Tasmania. But as companies apply for more and more exploratory licenses to identify new minerals deposits, landowners in the state are concerned about the environmental impacts.

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Video: Ensuring water access in arid environments—pilot fog catcher system simultaneously collects and cleans water

By Lisa McDonald / September 6, 2023

Fog catching provides people living in dry but foggy areas with a stable water source. But air pollution can make the collected water unsafe for use unless it is treated. Researchers led by ETH Zurich developed a system for simultaneously harvesting and cleaning the water collected from fog nets.

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