The hottest Materials science Substack posts right now

Spruce Pine, North Carolina, provides a lot of the high-purity quartz used in making silicon for semiconductors. This quartz is important because it helps produce the pure silicon necessary for making chips and solar panels.
While Spruce Pine quartz is significant, it isn't the only option available. There are other sources and potential substitutes, but they may not be as good or as cost-effective.
The semiconductor industry is exploring new materials for crucibles and increasing the production of quartz elsewhere, which could reduce reliance on Spruce Pine in the future. This means a supply disruption wouldn't completely stop semiconductor manufacturing.

Graphite is a key material for batteries, especially in electric vehicles, and there's been a shift from natural to synthetic graphite due to supply risks.
China dominates the graphite supply, which creates concerns about over-reliance and geopolitical tensions, leading to increased global interest in local production.
Synthetic graphite can be made from waste materials and has the potential to reduce environmental impacts if produced using renewable energy sources.

Using reflective surfaces like aluminum foil can offer limited protection against wildfires.
Choosing lighter colors for buildings can help keep them cool and reduce urban heat islands.
Structural colors and coatings may offer innovative ways to regulate building temperatures in the future.

The way chameleons change color can inspire future color-changing technology for surfaces and fabrics.
Current advancements in color-changing materials like Fabrican and PhotoChromeleon show promise for future fashion and architectural applications.
The deep meanings and social implications of colors in fashion and pigmentation mean that changing color technology may have complex impacts on society.

There is potential for room-temperature superconductors with simple materials like lead, phosphate, and copper.
A shift back to innovation in physical technologies, like hyperspectral imaging and geometric folding algorithms, might lead to significant advancements.
A reemphasis on traditional engineering fields, such as cars and rocket engines, is essential for future innovations outside of software.

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The post discusses the importance of broad thinking in physics and its application to various fields.
It highlights George Parisi's work on understanding complex systems through physics.
Parisi's contributions have led to breakthroughs in areas like climate modeling and stochastic resonance.

The power of AI in solving important problems like Materials Science.
The need for innovation in sustainable materials like aviation fuel due to the urgency of global problems.
Founding Orbital Materials to apply AI in chemistry and materials for a sustainable future.

Foundation models are being explored for predicting physical properties of atoms and molecules.
Applying generative modeling to scientific computing, particularly in materials science, has the potential to revolutionize the field.
The success of foundation models in materials science hinges on finding the right architecture, generative modeling task, and ensuring real-world applicability.