Market Insights
Digging into the development of uniform global mining standards
Mining standards and regulations have historically varied by region, nation, or locale, making for a patchwork of guidelines and laws for environmental protection, water and emissions management, proper waste disposal, worker rights, and engagement with Indigenous communities. Multinational mining companies, manufacturers, downstream customers, and socially conscious investors have for years…
Market Insights
Rethinking Arctic research: CIFAR report proposes pathways for the Arctic’s future
Although organized, multinational scientific research in the Arctic has taken place since the late 19th century,1 the past two decades have seen a surge in activity alongside the rapid ecosystem changes (Figure 1).2 Yet these scientific studies are increasingly mired in geopolitical tensions and economic interests,3 which means that scientists…
Market Insights
Global markets for lithium and green mining
The electrification and digitization of modern life drive increased demand for certain minerals, but they also drive the need for more environmentally conscious mining practices. Two recent BCC Research reports investigate the global markets for lithium mining and green mining, respectively. This Bulletin content is for ACerS members and registered…
Bulletin Features
From board games to materials research: Tradeoffs and long-term thinking in Terra Mystica
Stepping into a materials science research laboratory for the first time can feel overwhelming, especially when students realize that research typically does not come with clear instructions or predictable answers. Unlike school classes, where students mainly learn established knowledge and apply it to problems with expected answers, research requires them…
Bulletin Features
Depictions of glass within art
Glass has been used in and as artistic objects for millennia. Drinking cups, chandeliers, plates, mosaic floors and windows, art vases, jewelry … the list is endless. The investigation of these objects has provided numerous benefits to both scientists and historians, as the coalescence of glass art and glass science…
Research Insights
Computational design of glasses: A way to support Finnish manufacturing
Oxide glasses are among the most important classes of materials, playing essential roles in modern technologies such as optical devices, architectural glazing, and photosensitive materials. Despite their many advantages, most oxide glasses are brittle at room temperature. If we could identify compositions or processing conditions that improve fracture strength and…
Research Insights
Highlighting contributions from Nordic countries
This month we are highlighting some of the cutting-edge ceramics and glass research happening in the Nordic region. Even though making crack-resistant glass is incredibly important for all applications, a detailed understanding of how fracture toughness is related to the composition and structure of glass is still not well understood.…
Bulletin Features
Green lands: Nordic countries share knowledge and resources in pursuit of global leadership in sustainable practices
Sixteen years have passed since Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted and grounded flights across Europe. Today, a dormant volcano in Norway is making its own headlines as the source of Europe’s biggest stash of rare earths. Not to be outdone, Finland has become the first European country with lithium mining capabilities…
