Material World

Material World explores the unseen yet pivotal elements shaping modern civilization, from energy and material sciences to industrial strategies. It delves into the historical, economic, and technological nuances of materials like steel, glass, and salt, and their roles in everyday life and global development.

Energy and Sustainability Industrial and Technological Development Environmental Issues and Solutions Material Science and Engineering Global Economy and Trade Historical Technological Advances Modern Industrial Strategies

The hottest Substack posts of Material World

And their main takeaways

America still needs Canadian oil. Here's why

2899 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Trade policy Energy Policy International relations Oil industry
  1. The US relies heavily on Canadian oil, with Canada providing around 61% of its oil imports. This shows that even though the US produces a lot of oil, it still needs oil from other countries like Canada.
  2. American refineries are designed to process heavy oil, which is mostly sourced from Canada. This creates a unique situation where even though the US is an oil producer, it still heavily imports due to refinery needs.
  3. If tariffs on Canadian oil increase, the US might have to look for heavy oil from countries like Venezuela or Russia, which could lead to more complicated geopolitical issues.

The Technological Revolution that could Supercharge the World's Batteries

1783 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Batteries Innovation Electronics Materials Engineering
  1. Silicon carbon batteries are exciting because they can store more energy and charge faster than regular graphite batteries. This means better battery life for smartphones and even electric cars.
  2. The challenge with silicon anodes is that they swell a lot when charging, which can damage the battery. Scientists are working to find ways to manage this problem.
  3. While silicon is promising, it's still a new technology and can be expensive. For now, it's often used alongside traditional materials to improve battery performance.

No, Kerosene did NOT save the Sperm Whale

1323 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Ecology Wildlife Sustainability Natural resources
  1. Sperm whales have unique features, like the biggest heads and brains among large animals. They are incredible divers and eat mysterious creatures from the ocean's depths.
  2. Whale oil was popular because it made great lantern fuel and was used in various industries. Even after kerosene was discovered, the hunting of sperm whales actually increased due to new uses for their oil.
  3. Whale populations only recovered significantly after international bans on whaling and the development of synthetic substitutes for whale oil. It shows that technology and regulations are important for conservation.

The Most Hopeful Chart in the World

1400 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy transition Renewable Energy Environmental Policy Technological Impact
  1. Solar energy is growing rapidly, despite predictions that it would plateau. This shows that technology can indeed provide solutions to energy challenges.
  2. On the flip side, coal consumption in China is still increasing, contradicting expectations that it would decline. This highlights a serious issue in the global energy transition.
  3. The production of solar panels and batteries relies heavily on coal, which makes the transition to greener energy more complex than it appears. We need to be aware of how these products are made and the hidden costs involved.

Hang on, are there ANY lost minerals?

1269 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🔬 Science Geology Environmental Science Resources Sustainability
  1. Humans haven't really run out of minerals or resources, just gotten better at finding and extracting them. We still have plenty of well-known materials, even if they're harder to find in some places.
  2. Many stories about lost minerals, like certain types of marble, are exaggerated or incorrect. For example, some rare marbles still exist in significant amounts, contrary to popular belief.
  3. Instead of focusing on supposed lost minerals, it's more interesting to explore the minerals we continue to extract today, even when people think they've been exhausted.
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Forgotten Minerals #2: Caliche

918 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🔬 Science Geology Environmental Science Agriculture History
  1. People often keep mining a resource even when substitutes are available. This happens because once we start mining something, we rarely stop.
  2. Caliche, a valuable rock in the Atacama desert, is still being mined heavily for its nitrogen, despite the invention of synthetic alternatives that could replace it.
  3. Interestingly, mining caliche can have less environmental impact than the modern methods used to create fertilizers, showing that old mining practices haven't completely disappeared.

Time to talk about the Panama Canal

886 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political History International relations Geopolitics National Security
  1. There are long-standing historical tensions regarding control of the Panama Canal. Many believe the U.S. should still control it because of its significant contributions to building it.
  2. The original treaties around the canal were heavily influenced by American power dynamics, resulting in Panama losing much of its sovereignty at the time.
  3. There's ongoing discussion about building a canal in Nicaragua instead. This could solve some current issues with the Panama Canal, like water shortages and size restrictions for ships.

Further Reading

164 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🚌 Education Books Science History Research Reading
  1. There is a wide range of reading materials available to delve deeper into the topics discussed in the book.
  2. Various books and resources are recommended for exploring different aspects of material science, such as sand, salt, iron, copper, oil, and lithium.
  3. Authors and specific books are highlighted as excellent starting points for those interested in learning more about specific material-related subjects.

Beyond Gigafactories

229 implied HN points • 29 May 23
🕹 Technology Battery tech Industrialization Energy transition Supply Chain
  1. Gigafactories are important for countries' car industries to keep high-skilled jobs and stay competitive in the shift to electric vehicles.
  2. The value in electric cars is mainly in the battery, which is prompting the need for countries to develop their own battery and component manufacturing.
  3. Building gigafactories is just the start - countries also need to focus on producing the chemicals and materials that go into batteries to truly benefit from the electric vehicle market.

The Race to Win the Industrial Revolution

218 implied HN points • 27 Apr 23
💼 Business Green Technology Economic Policy Manufacturing Subsidies
  1. A small company in northern Britain, AMTE, has a significant history in battery technology development.
  2. The US Inflation Reduction Act offers hefty subsidies for manufacturers, causing companies like AMTE to consider relocating production.
  3. The UK faces a challenge in determining its industrial strategy amidst global competition in green technology subsidies.

It's Material World Week!

175 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
💼 Business Books Economy Innovation Environment Industry
  1. Writing and selling a book is a unique process for a journalist, involving a mix of excitement and awkward self-promotion.
  2. The book 'Material World' became even more relevant because of rapidly changing industrial and political landscapes.
  3. The future of technologies like e-fuels and batteries is likely to be diverse, not dominated by a single solution.

The Eerie Story of Low Background Steel

131 implied HN points • 10 Jun 23
🔬 Science Radiation History Innovation Research
  1. Raiders are targeting old shipwrecks to obtain low background steel, a rare metal free of radiation.
  2. Steel made before 1945 is valuable for products sensitive to radiation due to its lack of radionuclides.
  3. Despite advancements in reducing radiation in steel, there is still interest in obtaining pre-1945 steel for specific uses.

Atoms for Copper

120 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🔬 Science Mining Innovation Nuclear Environmental Impact
  1. Copper is a vital metal in our daily lives, but it is becoming harder to obtain in high quantities due to diminishing natural resources.
  2. In the past, there were radical ideas, like using nuclear weapons for mining copper, but technological advancements in mining techniques eventually proved more effective.
  3. Innovation in mining methods has been a gradual process, leading to better extraction of metals like copper, making them more accessible and affordable over time.

World of Glass

87 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🔬 Science Technology History Innovation Discoveries
  1. Glass is a crucial material in modern civilization and advanced technology.
  2. The world's scientific and cultural advancements have been heavily influenced by the use of glass.
  3. The production and use of glass have played significant roles in historical events and technological developments.

Why We Need More Maps

98 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
  1. Maps are crucial for understanding the economy and complexities of global systems.
  2. Charts and statistics simplify issues, but maps provide a deeper understanding of interconnections.
  3. In the face of supply chain challenges and an evolving economy, the need for new and improved maps to navigate the complex economic landscape is emphasized.

Britain's headlong slide from silicon supremacy to silicon irrelevance

6 HN points • 19 May 23
🕹 Technology Innovation Semiconductors Manufacturing
  1. In the 1940s and '50s, Britain was at the forefront of semiconductor research and came close to inventing the integrated circuit before the U.S.
  2. Geoffrey Dummer, an English engineer, almost changed history by conceptualizing the integrated circuit in 1952.
  3. The UK's semiconductor sector faces challenges, and the government's new Integrated Semiconductor Strategy indicates a potential shift towards a 21st century industrial strategy.

It’s the Energy, Stupid

2 HN points • 22 Feb 23
🔬 Science Energy Economy Agriculture Environment Technology
  1. Energy is a critical driving force behind the economy, impacting everything from the production of goods to the growth of vegetables like tomatoes.
  2. The availability and cost of energy play a significant role in various industries, such as greenhouse farming for vegetables and manufacturing sectors.
  3. Energy efficiency is improving, but energy remains a crucial input for processes like producing solar panels and other advanced technologies, highlighting its importance in future advancements.