#fossil fibres

[ezekiellsplayground]

Eeeeeeeeeee! Look what arrived yesterday! The largest fibre order I have EVER made and the currency conversion was horrific, but these colour ways are just. so. gorgeous! I have no regrets. Fibres are handdyed by Fossil Fibres.

[curious-creatures-crochet]

Posting HIM again because I did a holiday photoshoot. Monster energy can for scale!

Pattern

[minhayoo]

Details… 🦖 https://www.instagram.com/p/CpchQzULKlP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[herpsandbirds]

A new Carboniferous edaphosaurid and the origin of herbivory in mammal forerunners

Abstract

Herbivory evolved independently in several tetrapod lineages during the Late Carboniferous and became more widespread throughout the Permian Period, eventually leading to the basic structure of modern terrestrial ecosystems. Here we report a new taxon of edaphosaurid synapsid based on two fossils recovered from the Moscovian-age cannel coal of Linton, Ohio, which we interpret as an omnivore–low-fibre herbivore.  Melanedaphodon hovaneci gen. et sp. nov. provides the earliest record of an edaphosaurid to date and is one of the oldest known synapsids. Using high-resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography, we provide a comprehensive description of the new taxon that reveals similarities between Late Carboniferous and early Permian (Cisuralian) members of Edaphosauridae. The presence of large bulbous, cusped, marginal teeth alongside a moderately-developed palatal battery, distinguishes  Melanedaphodon from all other known species of Edaphosauridae and suggests adaptations for processing tough plant material already appeared among the earliest synapsids. Furthermore, we propose that durophagy may have provided an early pathway to exploit plant resources in terrestrial ecosystems.

Read the paper:

A new Carboniferous edaphosaurid and the origin of herbivory in mammal forerunners | Scientific Reports (nature.com)

[emolionsrawr]

buck: *mumbling*

tommy: whatcha up to babe?

buck: sh sh sh i'm in the zone

tommy: oh sorry

*three hours later*

buck: HEY BABE WANNA KNOW HOW ACRYLIC YARN IS MADE?!

tommy: uh, obviously! how is it made?

buck: okay so acrylic yarn is made from a coal based and petroleum chemicals, making them fossil fuels! the petroleum chemicals is treated with certain monomers, which is a type of molecule that leads to the formation of polymers! acrylic fibre and yarn are made from a synthetic polymer called acrylonitrile!

tommy: oh wow, that's really interesting baby *kisses buck head* what made you deep dive on acrylic yarn?

buck: huh? oh! i somehow got to crochet tok and got curious, but do you know what that means babe?

tommy: what?

buck: everyone who crochets dinosaurs with acrylic yarn is making dinosaurs with dinosaur juice

tommy: dino juice-

buck: dino juice!!

[budandtender]

Cannabis: A Multifaceted Plant for a Multitude of Uses

Introduction

Cannabis, a plant that has been a part of human history for thousands of years, is experiencing a resurgence in popularity as its myriad of uses become increasingly recognised. From its strong fibres used in textiles and paper to its nutritional and medicinal properties, cannabis has proven itself to be a truly multipurpose plant. This article will delve into the various aspects of this versatile plant and explore how it has been utilised throughout history and across cultures.

The History of Hemp: A Material with Unmatched Strength

One of the most well-known uses of cannabis is in the production of hemp, a material derived from the plant's strong fibres. These fibres have been used for millennia to create durable cloth, rope, and paper. The Vikings, known for their seafaring prowess, utilised hemp to construct sails for their ships, enabling them to voyage from Scandinavia to Nova Scotia. In the United States, Betsy Ross sewed the first flag from hempen cloth, and the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper. Even the now obsolete German currency, Deutsche Mark, were once printed on hemp paper.

The use of hemp extended beyond these applications, as seen in the Netherlands, where windmills were built specifically to crush hemp stalks. This demonstrates the importance of hemp in various industries and highlights the plant's incredible versatility.

Cannabis as a Nutritional Powerhouse

While the strength of its fibres may have initially attracted humans to the cannabis plant, its potential as a food source likely played a significant role in its widespread cultivation. Cannabis seeds, or hempseeds, are packed with essential nutrients such as polyunsaturated fats, essential fatty acids, and proteins. These qualities qualify hempseed as a functional food, meaning it provides health benefits beyond basic nutrition.

For over three thousand years, Asian cultures have utilised hempseed as both a food and a medicine. Despite the prohibition of cannabis products in the United States, hempseed has been allowed for use in food over the last two decades. This highlights the recognition of its nutritional value and potential health benefits.

Cannabis Resin: A Source of Medicinal and Psychoactive Compounds

The resin produced by the cannabis plant is another aspect that has garnered significant attention due to its medicinal and psychoactive properties. The compounds found in cannabis resin, such as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), have been the focus of breeding efforts to increase their production. These efforts have led to the development of various cannabis drug chemotypes around the world, with some cultivars producing only THC, others producing both THC and CBD, and a few expressing propyl THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin) and/or CBDV (cannabidivarin).

The medicinal uses of cannabis resin have been widely researched, with evidence suggesting its effectiveness in treating conditions such as chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and more. The psychoactive effects of THC have also led to the recreational use of cannabis, which has sparked debates surrounding its legalisation and regulation.

Environmental Benefits of Cannabis Cultivation

In addition to its myriad uses, cannabis cultivation offers several environmental benefits. Hemp plants are known to absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide, making them an effective tool in combating climate change. Furthermore, hemp requires fewer pesticides and herbicides than many other crops, reducing the environmental impact of agriculture.

Cannabis can also be used as a source of biofuel, offering a renewable and eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels. Additionally, the fast growth rate and low water requirements of hemp make it a sustainable crop, capable of providing resources without causing significant strain on natural resources.

Conclusion

Cannabis is a truly remarkable plant, with applications ranging from textiles and paper to nutrition and medicine. As society continues to recognise its numerous benefits, it is likely that the cultivation and use of cannabis will only continue to grow. By embracing this versatile plant, we can harness its potential to improve our health, industries, and environment for generations to come.

[dirtybiowareconfessions]

Confession: When I tell you I wanna wreck the Bull till he’s wailing for mercy and drooling. Till the bed frame snaps. Till the only word he knows is my name. Till the fibres in the mattress disintegrate. Till he’s oscillating. Till the paint peels off the walls. Till the neighbors know my name. Till the house collapses.Till the Chantry declares an Exalted March on us. Till his spine shatters. Till my spine shatters. Till we’re fossilized mid-fuck.

[high-voltage-rat]

Interesting tidbits I noted from my mechquest archiving today:

Braddock Steele is the last surviving member of an elite secret task force/mercenary group called the Star Strikers. They're stated to be from the planet Celestia, suggesting that's the planet he's from.

There's a model of self-healing mecha quite similar to the Valkyrie line that's developed by Quinn Labs. Given that this is Nurse Helia's last name, we can guess that she's either head of a lab that designs mecha technology on top of all her other duties, or, more probably, she's somehow related to the lab heads and that's the family business. She's even stated to have trained in healing for "humans, aliens and mecha"- and it seems training in "healing" mecha goes along well with the self-healing functions they're designed with.

It hasn't been that long since the last war- there were the Solar Wars of 2086. Given that the series start is set around 3008, that's only about 22 years of relative peace.

Fossilized Dragon's Eyes are sometimes used to focus laser weapons.

Mysterious Johnson is considered a popular fashion guru. He's even designed a "sport-class" mecha, something that prioritizes looks... meaning the uniform he puts the player in during his questline wasn't even a case of obliviousness to it's ugliness. He just did it to us anyway.

Despite being the most laidback of the house leaders, Casca has probably the coldest response to being betrayed in the GEARS games- meanwhile, Jaania seems to be genuinely heartbroken by betrayal.

Magical sign language can be used to cast spells, even at the mecha level. There are apparently specific gestures known by vampire hunters that harm vampires.

Most Drakels have human-like hands and webbed flipper feet, but some have webbed hands as well. This is similar to the equins, some of whom appear to only have two fingers and a thumb, while most have four.

There's a cell, or cellular component, within the nervous system called a magi-fibre. Jaania lists it alongside "neurons" and "dendrites" when describing a visceral feeling. Presumably this is the portion of the nervous system responsible for channeling of mana and performing magic.

[suzilight]

Dimasi prefers protein fibres like wool and silk. She says they have a “natural intelligence” that makes them better to wear because they thermoregulate and don’t need to be washed frequently.

These materials used to be more common. In 1975 fabrics derived from fossil fuels like polyester, nylon and acrylic represented just 30% of the global fibre market. In 2021, that figure was 64%. By comparison in 2021, wool represented just 1% of the global fibre market and silk was just under 0.2%, although the total production of most fibres has increased significantly in that time.

“I do get mad when I see very expensive designer pieces made from poly crepe – it’s like they’re taking the piss out of the customer,” says Press. “People might say, ‘Well poly is durable,’ but for me it’s just nasty, sweaty plastic – and the only reason to add it to a garment is to save money.”

[notwiselybuttoowell]

It can often feel like you need a PhD in material science just to understand the textiles that appear on garment care labels. While natural fibres including wool and cotton are pretty easy to identify, synthetics such as polyester and viscose can be harder to decode.

Generally speaking, human-made materials fall into one of two categories: those derived from fossil fuels and those derived from chemically processed cellulose (the building block of plants).

Fossil fuel-based fibres

Polyester

Polyester is the most common fibre on the planet, making up over half of the overall fibre market. It is a type of plastic called polyethylene terephthalate or PET which is moulded into yarn then woven into a fabric.

Dr Georgia McCorkill, a fashion lecturer at RMIT, says fossil fuels are the basis of the chemicals that make PET, so from an environmental and sustainability standpoint, their origins are already problematic. Since plastic does not so much biodegrade as split into smaller and smaller pieces (it was only invented last century, so we can’t really know how long it will hang around), polyester is also problematic when it is washed, as it can shed microplastics into waterways and at the end of a garment’s life.

“In an ideal world [polyester] would exist in a closed-loop system where it would be perpetually melted down and reformed into new fabrics,” says McCorkill. “However the design, production and waste recovery systems required to make this a reality don’t exist.”

Recently, there has been a push towards recycled polyester – which uses plastic bottles as an input – instead of virgin resources. While recycled polyester has a lower carbon footprint than conventional polyester, it is not a perfect solution. Turning plastic bottles into new plastic bottles is more efficient than recycling them into polyester, and it can be done on a loop. Current methods for turning plastic into polyester at scale do not result in a material that can be recycled again post-use.

McCorkill says polyester is an extremely strong material and can be necessary in activewear, sportswear or outdoor gear. But, she says, “polyester can get very smelly over time and become unwearable”. This is because it clings to odour and stains, making them impossible to remove.

Nylon

Like polyester, nylon is also a plastic derived from fossil fuels but it is more expensive to make and therefore used less frequently. It makes up about 11% of the clothing fibre market. Since nylon is stretchier and stronger than polyester, it is often found in swimwear and yoga gear.

Manufacturing nylon releases nitrous oxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global heating, and because nylon is a plastic it won’t biodegrade. The founder of Cloth & Co, Caroline Poiner, suggests looking for recycled alternatives such as Econyl that are made with recovered waste products, including fishing lines and other waste pulled from the ocean.

Unlike recycled polyester, recycled nylon can be regenerated into new nylon more than once, provided it has not been blended with other fibre types.

Elastane

The other fossil fuel-based fibre you’ll often encounter on a garment care label is elastane (also called spandex or Lycra). It is commonly blended with other fibres to provide added stretch (it can expand and recover up to five times its own length).

This elasticity makes it similar to rubber. But while natural rubber or elastic is derived from trees, elastane is derived from polyurethane and will not biodegrade. While elastane’s capacity for stretch and recovery makes it very useful in athletic gear and underwear, when exposed to heat or too much strain, its elasticity will degrade over time.

Man-made cellulosic fibres

Viscose rayon is the umbrella term for fibres manufactured from cellulose, but as many fibres fall into this broad category, it can be very confusing. The list includes rayon, viscose, modal, lyocell, acetate, bamboo and cupro. Aside from cupro, which is made from cotton waste, all of these materials are derived from wood pulp.

Poiner warns that although bamboo and the like are often marketed on their eco credentials, it can be “comparable to synthetic fibres in its impact on the environment and also the health and wellbeing of workers."

Sourcing viscose rayon has historically been linked to deforestation, and even now the environmental not-for-profit Canopy estimates that of the 200m trees cut down each year to make viscose, at least half come from ancient or endangered forests. If you want to be sure these fabrics have been sustainably sourced, look for FSC or PEFC certifications.

The process of turning wood or cotton waste into a fabric “requires highly toxic chemicals in its production”, says Poiner, who notes some manufacturers choose factory sites where they can avoid strict health and safety regulations.

Less harmful cellulose fabrics are manufactured using a closed-loop system, that recovers and reuses toxic solvents. EcoVero and Tencel are types of lyocell, trademarked by fabric giant Lenzing, which are made using best practice pulp-sourcing and chemical management during the production process.

There are also exciting innovations in this space, with new types of viscose rayon made using agricultural, food or clothing waste as a source material instead of trees, however these are not yet widely available.

[newlabdakos]

Pterodactylus

(temporal range: 150.8-148.5 mio. years ago)

[text from the Wikipedia article, see also link above]

Pterodactylus (from Greek pterodáktylos (πτεροδάκτυλος) meaning 'winged finger'[2]) is an extinct genus of pterosaurs. It is thought to contain only a single species, Pterodactylus antiquus, which was the first pterosaur to be named and identified as a flying reptile and one of the first prehistoric reptiles to ever be discovered.

Fossil remains of Pterodactylus have primarily been found in the Solnhofen limestone of Bavaria, Germany, which dates from the Late Jurassic period (early Tithonian stage), about 150.8 to 148.5 million years ago. More fragmentary remains of Pterodactylus have tentatively been identified from elsewhere in Europe and in Africa.[3]

Pterodactylus was a generalist carnivore that probably fed on a variety of invertebrates and vertebrates. Like all pterosaurs, Pterodactylus had wings formed by a skin and muscle membrane stretching from its elongated fourth finger to its hind limbs. It was supported internally by collagen fibres and externally by keratinous ridges. Pterodactylus was a small pterosaur compared to other famous genera such as Pteranodon and Quetzalcoatlus, and it also lived earlier, during the Late Jurassic period, while both Pteranodon and Quetzalcoatlus lived during the Late Cretaceous. Pterodactylus lived alongside other small pterosaurs such as the well-known Rhamphorhynchus, as well as other genera such as Scaphognathus, Anurognathus and Ctenochasma. Pterodactylus is classified as an early-branching member of the ctenochasmatid lineage, within the pterosaur clade Pterodactyloidea.

[prof-cycad]

As the Fossil Revival project becomes more mainstream with the release of Hisuian forms of modern Pokemon, efforts are in place to perfect the clones of more ancient Fossils. Most of the newly observed traits are minor, but a few are scientific marvels.

Aerodactyl was covered in a thin coat of fur-like hair fibres

Cradily had frond-like arms for catching prey, akin to a fern's leaves

Rampardos ate anything from small reptiles to plants to eggs

Tirtouga would hatch in their thousands on ancient beaches

Aurorus moved in large herds, grazing on fresh canopy leaves

[rutujamnm]

Polyamide Market poised to reach $55.7 billion by 2028

The report "Polyamide Market by Type (Polyamide 6, Polyamide 66, Bio-Based & Specialty polyamide), Application (Engineering Plastics, Fiber), and Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, Middle East & Africa) - Global Forecast to 2028", is projected to grow from USD 43.8 billion in 2023 to USD 55.7 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 4.9% from 2023 to 2028. Growing demand for lightweight materials in the automotive industry to provide increased efficiency and design flexibility has paved its way for the growth of polyamide market. Furthermore, bio-based & specialty polyamides are gaining demand in the market owing to their eco-friendly nature.

Download pdf-https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=930

By type, the bio-based & specialty polyamide segment is estimated to be the fastest growing segment of the global polyamide market during 2023 to 2028.

In terms of value, the bio-based & specialty polyamide segment, by product, is projected to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period. It is made from renewable sources like castor oil or plants and offer sustainability without compromising key properties. Bio-nylon caters to various industries, including automotive, textiles, and packaging, while reducing emissions and fossil fuel dependence and aligning with the circular economy. These properties of bio-based polyamides which contribute to a circular economy are expected to boost the overall polyamide market.

By application, the engineering plastics segment is projected to register highest CAGR of the global polyamide market during 2023 to 2028.

By application, the engineering plastics segment is projected to be the fastest-growing segment of the global polyamide market during the forecast period in terms of volume. They offer exceptional mechanical strength, thermal stability, and chemical resistance. These versatile plastics are crucial in automotive, aerospace, electronics, and consumer goods industries for producing durable, high-performance components and products which propel the overall polyamide market expansion.

Request Sample- https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=930

By region, the Middle East & Africa is estimated to be the fastest growing segment of the global polyamide market during 2023 to 2028.

By region, Middle East & Africa is estimated to account for the fastest-growing region of polyamide market from 2023 to 2028. The automotive, power, manufacturing sectors, and infrastructural developments are the key drivers for engineering plastics such as polyamide  in Middle East & Africa. UAE and Saudi Arabia are the major markets in the region. These are supported by rising income and increased demand for electronics products which boost the polyamide demand in the region.

The major players operating in the polyamide market include BASF SE (Germany), Celanese Corporation (US), Arkema (US), Asahi Kasei Corporation (Japan), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), Kuraray Co., Ltd. (Japan), Toray Industries, Inc. (Japan), Envalior (Germany), UBE Corporation (Japan), Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corp. (Republic of China), SABIC (Saudi Arabia), Advansix (US), DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (US), Huntsman International LLC (US), EMS Grivory (Switzerland), DOMO Chemicals (Belgium), Ascend Performance Materials (US), Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials (Switzerland), Invista (US), and RadiciGroup (Italy), and others.

[minhayoo]

고등과학원 웹진 HORIZON, <빅뱅에서 인간까지 [6]: 지구의 역사 2부> 삽화를 자수 작업하였습니다 🪡 Embroidery illustration for HORIZON webzine, <빅뱅에서 인간까지 [6]: 지구의 역사 2부> 🪡 https://www.instagram.com/p/CpcgSHurLDo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tsasocial]

re.solution wins ACHEMA Start-up Award 2024

The winner of the ACHEMA Start-up Award 2024 is re.solution. The start-up recycles textiles containing polyester using a chemical process with renewable energy and low water and chemical consumption. With their innovation and business plan, the Aachen-based founders prevailed against nine other finalists.

For the fourth time, DECHEMA, High-Tech Gründerfonds and Business Angels FrankfurtRheinMain were looking for entrepreneurial scientists and founders with an affinity for technology. The fact that start-ups are now an integral part of the process industry was demonstrated not only by the number and quality of the applications, but also by the range of innovations on which the start-ups are based. This clearly reflects the general industry trends of sustainability and digitalization.

This also applies to the winning start-up: re.solution was founded at RWTH Aachen University in 2023 and aims to tackle the growing mountains of used textiles with chemical recycling.

The proprietary process runs on renewable energy and thus achieves a lower carbon footprint while consuming less chemicals and water in comparison with similar technologies. It is further designed to overcome textile-specific recycling challenges like the recycling of fibre blends and the removal of impurities. Due to its robustness and a high product quality, the process is economically competitive compared to polyester’s fossil route. The long-term ambition is to develop and operate plants at an industrial scale.

The jury was impressed by re.solution's innovative idea, a scalable process and a solid business plan. However, the selection was not easy, as the finalists were very close to each other in the evaluation. They offer an interesting portfolio for investors and potential industrial partners:

Biosimo AG wants to drive the transformation of the chemical industry towards greater sustainability with basic chemicals made from renewable raw materials.

ChemInnovation has developed the AI model METIS. It enables the automated structural elucidation of unknown molecules based on mass spectra.

co2ol catalyst uses a robust catalyst to produce methanol from CO2 - even from sources that could previously only be used with additional purification stages.

eco:fibr has developed an extraction process with which pulp for the paper and cardboard industry can be obtained from pineapple plant residues.

Graph-Co offers the digitization and migration of technical flow charts for the process industry under the brand name Graph-ID.

Inline Process Solutions GmbH analyzes particle flows in plants inline with the help of image-optical AI-based sensor technology.

LABMaiTE GmbH fully automatically optimizes the culture media for fermentative bioprocesses and thus accelerates their development.

Nanolope offers versatile heat storage solutions based on a phase change material.

PHABIOC develops innovative tools, microplates and analyzers for screening on a small scale and with a high throughput rate in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

Since 2015, the ACHEMA Start-up Award is sponsored every three years by DECHEMA Gesellschaft für Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e.V., DECHEMA Ausstellungs-GmbH, Business Angels FrankfurtRheinMain e.V. and High-Tech Gründerfonds. The ACHEMA Start-up Award is also supported by the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the Association of German Engineers (VDI), the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI), the AiF InnovatorsNet, BCNP Consultants, the Business Angels Network Germany and the Forum Startup Chemie.

If you want to get to know the ten start-ups in person, you have the opportunity to do so in the Start-up Area (Hall 6.0) at ACHEMA until June 14, 2024.

[plastimetal]

In architecture, concrete could be reinforced with carbon fibres instead of steel, allowing ultra-thin structures to be built.

"The benefit is that you can make the concrete much thinner while being able to carry heavy loads so you can design completely different shapes. The aim is to get away from the huge amounts of concrete that are being used today."