Determining the function of a historical artifact can be difficult and may require archeologists to search for external clues. An international research team spanning North America describes how they identified an ancient ceramic piece located in the ancient Maya site of Mayapán as a blowpipe tip.
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Increasing diverse representation of scientists in the media is one way to encourage students from underrepresented groups to pursue careers in science. A new children science show called N*Gen, produced in Uganda, helps achieve that goal by teaching science through an African perspective.
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The 45th International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites (ICACC 2021) took place virtually Feb. 8–11, 2021. Over 800 people attended for a week full of plenary and award lectures, focused sessions, and live networking events.
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Ceramic molds used to cast bronze pieces during the Bronze Age offer one way to understand diachronic change and regional variation in metallurgical industries during that period. Researchers developed a novel FTIR-based approach for estimating the firing temperatures of these molds.
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In continuous steel casting, ceramic powders are thrown on top of the liquid metal to prevent oxidation. Two researchers from Japan investigate whether potassium carbonate may serve as an alternative to more expensive materials in the powder.
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As we face dangerously rising carbon dioxide levels in the earth’s atmosphere, new strategies for carbon capture and storage that are not only effective but also scalable, affordable, and easy to implement are drastically needed. Could a simple green silicate mineral called olivine provide the solution?
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The 5th International Conference on Smart Materials and Nanotechnology took place Dec. 1–4, 2020, at the Nongnooch Pattaya Garden & Resort in Thailand. The hybrid conference welcomed over 605 participants from around the world for several days of talks, committee meetings, and networking.
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Coral reefs are experiencing massive die-offs because of bleaching, ocean acidification, and pollution, among other factors. Coral restoration is a top priority for marine researchers, and a team of marine scientists and architects at the University of Hong Kong is exploring using 3D printing to fabricate structurally complex clay tiles for coral to grow on.
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Clay soils are essential raw materials in the ceramics industry. But how do manufacturers determine the potential of soils for industrial use when scoping out a new clay pit? An open-access study by three researchers in Mozambique shows how they evaluated soil potential based on samples extracted from the Manjacazi district.
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When we think about ceramics in history, we typically think of ancient pottery and art. But clay also is the material used to create an animated anthropomorphic being in Jewish lore called a golem. In the spirit of Halloween, today’s CTT takes a look at the history of this creature and depictions of it in contemporary media.
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