#fused silica

[chemanalystdata]

Fused Silica Prices Trend | Pricing | News | Database | Chart

 Fused silica, a non-crystalline form of silicon dioxide, plays a critical role in a wide range of industries due to its remarkable properties, including high purity, superior thermal stability, low thermal expansion, and excellent transparency in the ultraviolet (UV) to infrared (IR) spectrum. These characteristics make it indispensable in applications such as semiconductor manufacturing, optics, telecommunications, and scientific instrumentation. Over recent years, the prices of fused silica have experienced notable fluctuations, driven by a mix of supply and demand dynamics, raw material costs, geopolitical factors, and advancements in manufacturing technologies. Understanding these market forces provides crucial insights for businesses and investors navigating this complex market landscape.

One of the key factors influencing the pricing of fused silica is its production process, which demands high-purity raw materials and precise manufacturing techniques. Unlike standard glass, fused silica requires a meticulous melting process that minimizes impurities to achieve its exceptional properties. As a result, even minor variations in the cost of high-grade silicon dioxide feedstock can significantly impact the final price of fused silica. Additionally, energy costs play a crucial role, as the high-temperature processes involved in the production of fused silica consume substantial energy. Any increase in energy prices or disruptions in energy supply chains can lead to a direct rise in the cost of production, ultimately reflected in market prices.

Get Real Time Prices for Fused silica: https://www.chemanalyst.com/Pricing-data/fused-silica-1591

Demand for fused silica is largely shaped by the performance of its key end-use sectors. The semiconductor industry, for instance, is a major consumer of high-purity fused silica due to its use in photomasks, lenses, and other critical components of chip manufacturing. With the global semiconductor market experiencing both rapid growth and periods of cyclical demand, any shifts in this sector can lead to corresponding changes in the demand for fused silica. When semiconductor production booms, so does the demand for high-purity materials, often driving up prices. Conversely, a slowdown or inventory correction in the semiconductor sector may exert downward pressure on fused silica prices.

The optics and photonics industries also contribute significantly to the demand for fused silica, as it is used in a wide range of optical components, including lenses, windows, and mirrors. These sectors are driven by technological advancements in laser systems, medical devices, and other optical technologies. As innovations in these fields accelerate, the demand for high-performance materials like fused silica rises, leading to potential price increases. Additionally, fused silica is essential in fiber optic communications, a key enabler of modern telecommunications and high-speed data transfer. The growing deployment of 5G networks and expansion of data centers globally are expected to continue supporting robust demand for fused silica, affecting its price trajectory.

Geopolitical factors and international trade dynamics can also significantly impact fused silica prices. Many countries that produce high-purity silica materials are subject to export controls, tariffs, and trade restrictions. For example, trade tensions between major economies can disrupt supply chains, limiting access to raw materials or driving up production costs due to tariffs and other trade barriers. Any political instability or regulatory changes in key producing regions can lead to market uncertainty and price volatility, influencing the cost and availability of fused silica for global buyers.

On the supply side, the availability of high-quality silicon dioxide feedstock is critical for fused silica production. Natural quartz, the primary source of silicon dioxide, must meet stringent purity requirements to be suitable for high-end applications. Variability in mining conditions, extraction costs, and environmental regulations can all affect the supply of high-purity quartz. In recent years, increased attention to environmental sustainability has prompted stricter regulations on mining practices, potentially raising costs for producers and impacting the price of fused silica in the market. Furthermore, environmental concerns have led to investments in cleaner and more sustainable production methods, which may carry higher initial costs but ultimately contribute to long-term stability and innovation within the industry.

Technological advancements also play a role in shaping fused silica prices. Improvements in production processes, such as precision melting techniques and automated quality control systems, can enhance efficiency and reduce waste, potentially lowering production costs. However, implementing new technologies often requires significant capital investment, which can initially drive prices higher. Over time, as these technologies become more widely adopted, they may contribute to price stabilization and greater consistency in product quality, benefiting both producers and consumers.

In recent years, the global market for fused silica has also been affected by supply chain disruptions, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdowns, labor shortages, and logistical challenges led to delays and increased costs in the production and distribution of high-purity silica materials. Even as economies gradually recover, lingering supply chain issues and fluctuations in demand across various sectors continue to influence market dynamics. Companies have increasingly sought to diversify their supply chains and invest in localized production capabilities to mitigate future risks, which could have long-term implications for pricing trends.

In conclusion, fused silica prices are shaped by a complex interplay of factors, including production costs, demand from key industries, geopolitical influences, and technological advancements. Understanding these dynamics is essential for stakeholders navigating the market, whether as producers, buyers, or investors. As the global economy continues to evolve and new technologies emerge, the fused silica market will likely experience further changes in pricing trends, requiring continuous monitoring and adaptation to stay ahead in this critical sector.

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[luverre-quartz]

Polished Crystal Transparent Fused Silica Glass Rods are made of high quality natural quartz raw material through precise fusion process and strict polishing treatment. The product plays an important role in many fields such as scientific research, laboratory analysis, semiconductor manufacturing, optical devices and so on with its excellent optical properties, excellent chemical stability and high temperature resistance.

[miteshrao20]

Unraveling the Excellence: Industrial Fused Silica Glass in Advanced Manufacturing

Industrial fused silica glass stands as a pinnacle material in modern manufacturing, revered for its exceptional purity and thermal stability. This specialized form of silica glass finds extensive utility across diverse industries, owing to its remarkable properties. https://himanshuugulati.medium.com/unraveling-the-excellence-industrial-fused-silica-glass-in-advanced-manufacturing-c5905dd9bb2d

[coecrystaloptics]

The Key properties of sapphire windows and UV fused silica windows 

Sapphire windows are known for their extreme hardness, high strength, and excellent optical transmission. They have a wide transmission range, from the ultraviolet (UV) to the mid-infrared (IR), and they are also very resistant to scratching and corrosion. Sapphire windows are often used in applications where high performance and durability are essential, such as in laser, high power LEDs, and aerospace systems.

[crazy-pages]

Solid state physics professor: And so because we can describe things as infinite repeating lattices, we can use these relatively simple structural mechanics to describe semiconductors! Poor naive students: What about glass and other amorphous materials? Professor: Hahaha, we don't talk about glasses. They don't work like that. Students: Oh. So they have different properties than semiconductors? Professor: … well. No. Students: Wait. What? What do you mean no? Professor: They behave very similarly to semiconductors with respect to electric properties and are very similar to high mosaic crystals physically. Students: Oh. So … how do you describe the underlying physics leading to that behavior? Is it similar to lattice structures? Professor: Haha. Hah. Hah. Students: … we can describe the underlying physics right? Professor: … sure. Students: For more than high purity fused silica? Professor: … alright class dismissed, go home, study crystals, have fun, and if you hear me weeping horribly in my office no you didn't!

[buckstriviacorner]

EVAN BUCKLEY 9-1-1 | 6x10 – IN A FLASH

When lightning hits the sand, it's so hot that it instantly melts the silica, or quartz, found in the sand. The heat is so intense that the sand fuses together, creating glass. This glass forms in the shape of the lightning’s path, resulting in tube-like structures called fulgurites.

[avita-anarchy]

Saved the Day (tm)

Finally, after well over 250 hours of gameplay (on this save), I have reached the end of SatisFactory.

What an awesome game. I loved every moment of it... though balancing water and dark matter input/ outputs was a bit trying at times. The story, while barebones, was still fun; ADA's relationship with the Mercer mind was both fascinating and amusing. I wish it had a more defined conclusion, but maybe we'll see that in a future update.

As for my factory, I finished with a power grid of a little over 50 GWh. The second picture shows most of it, as I tried to minimize having satellite factories and transported as much as I could to the one location in the map's northwest corner. The only sizeable sattelite factory was on the oil islands on the west side of the map, which produced supercomputers and high-speed connector, but most of the crude oil was shipped by trains to the main factory for processing.

Description of some production locations in the second picture under the cut.

Going from left to right:

Above the equipment icons and health bar, the initial oil processing facility that primarily produced rubber and petroleum coke. This is serviced by one of the trains coming from the western oil islands, which also brings bauxite and extra petroleum coke.

The tower just to the right of that produced fused modular frames and cooling systems, as well as spare aluminum casings and alclad sheets. This is serviced by the other train coming from the western oil islands which brings crude oil, bauxite, and copper ore.

The big square on the ocean is the rocket fuel production plant with 83 fuel power generators using it to generate a significant chunk of my power grid.

The tall, narrow tower behind the space elevator is where turbo motors are created. Due to the processing of oil for this production, it also created all of the heavy oil residue needed to create the rocket fuel.

The northern-most beach started initially as a coal power plant, but was later converted and is now sends out time crystals, neural processors, silica, quartz, and reanimated SAM and SAM fluctuators.

Around the base of the space elevator to the north, east, and south was pretty much all the small scale production, from iron plates to quickwire and steel products.

The two towers in the middle of the image were some of the last to be built; the one on the left makes superposition oscillators and the one on the right makes singularity cells.

The facility on the far right is the nuclear power plant. I don't consider it a satellite factory simply because of how many resources go from the main factory to it, rather than being transported to it by train or drone. This was a late creation as well, as I waited until I could make ficsonium to delve into nuclear power; I did not want to deal with setting up a nuclear waste site. Between the uranium (225% overclocked), plutonium (250% overclocked), and ficsonium power generators, this gave me almost 15 GWh and just enough power to make the last few components needed to finish the game.

[dyxtd21]

My Gemsona OCs easily summarized (Part 1):

Zebra Jasper = Mob boss/The Mafia.

Quantum Quattro Silica = Vox from Hazbin Hotel/TVs.

Lemon Quartz = Jeremy Jordan (*Cough* Lucifer *cough*)

Pietersite = Holy angel.

Mystic Topaz = Headless Horseman.

Axinite = "My the power of Odin"/Viking.

Bixbyite = "What have I created?"/Reptilian Boogeyman.

Pyrope = 'Hot-shot' lawyer (Able to manipulate fire)

Ametrine = Two-Face/Harvey Dent rip-off but horizontal split with colors of purple and yellow.

Hematite = Yandere.

Cotton Candy Quartz = Beelzebub from Helluva Boss.

Iolite = Shark gal.

Amethyst = Punk rock star.

Nephrite = Nepeta and Meulin Leijon from Homestuck but fused together. Is a werecat gal.

Bi-Color Fluorite = 'Obsessed with beauty' fashion model.

Strawberry Quartz = "I love strawberries!"

Green Zebra Jasper = Alastor from Hazbin Hotel.

Angel Aura Quartz = "She was a fairy."

Chrysocolla = Stressed geek/nerd.

Leopard Skin Jasper = Two-faced and mean cheerleader. Obsessed with Zebra Jasper.

Yellow Zebra Jasper = Demisexual DJ.

Sunshine Aura Quartz = Elf.

Red Phantom Quartz = Samurai.

Mexican Fire Opal = Luchador.

Mexican Matrix Opal = "Remember me, thought I have to travel far."

Ice Jade = Arctic Hare gal.

Egyptian Zebra Jasper = Anubis.

Shattuckite = Velvette from Hazbin Hotel.

Alexandrite = Two-Face but a gal who changes personalities and appearance depending on the lighting between cowgirl and outlaw.

Blizzard Stone = Ryan Reynolds but if he was a snowboarder.

Bi-Color Citrine = Has a phone for a head.

Serpentine = Mad scientist but as an anthropomorphic snake/Sir Pentious from Hazbin Hotel.

Smoky Quartz = Anthropomorphic wolf who's a mercenary and bounty hunter but respects women immensely.

Sardonyx = Robo Fizzaroli from Helluva Boss.

Cherry Quartz and Strawberry Aura Quartz = Glitz and Glam from Helluva Boss.

Jelly Opal = A messenger who's a Longma.

Citrine = Chris Pine but if he was a Greek prince.

Imperial Topaz = Japanese Emperor.

Moss Aquamarine = Playful and mischievous Indian belly dancer.

Zoisite = "Ninja!"

Purple Zebra Jasper = Deeply sadistic and has immense hate for others.

Prasiolite = "I know what I'm doing. Afterall, I'm the Mayor."

Ammolite = Aroace, Victorian-era poet.

The Nine Tales Council: (Parti Sapphire, Cornflower Blue Sapphire, Padparadscha Sapphire, Purple Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Black Star Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Orange Sapphire and Yellow Sapphire) = A group of anthropomorphic fox ladies.

Pyrite = Female pirate captain.

Jet = "Oh captain, my captain."/Pyrite's first mate.

Blue Goldstone = "Can we fix it?"

Milky Quartz = Opera singer.

Ruby = This

Emerald = Butler.

Amazonite = Tribal warrior.

Black Onyx = A polite CEO by day and by night, a serial killer known as 'The Bunny Man'. He's also bisexual.

Calcite = Takes inspiration from Maneki-neko statues. Is a werecat gal.

Turquoise = Homelander from The Boys.

Tanzine Aura Quartz = Ali Baba and his Forty Thieves but if Tanzine Aura Quartz was also a vlogger/blogger.

[transgenderer]

Reproduction among these organisms is asexual by binary fission, during which the diatom divides into two parts, producing two "new" diatoms with identical genes. Each new organism receives one of the two frustules – one larger, the other smaller – possessed by the parent, which is now called the epitheca; and is used to construct a second, smaller frustule, the hypotheca. The diatom that received the larger frustule becomes the same size as its parent, but the diatom that received the smaller frustule remains smaller than its parent. This causes the average cell size of this diatom population to decrease.[15] It has been observed, however, that certain taxa have the ability to divide without causing a reduction in cell size.[58] Nonetheless, in order to restore the cell size of a diatom population for those that do endure size reduction, sexual reproduction and auxospore formation must occur.[15]

Vegetative cells of diatoms are diploid (2N) and so meiosis can take place, producing male and female gametes which then fuse to form the zygote. The zygote sheds its silica theca and grows into a large sphere covered by an organic membrane, the auxospore. A new diatom cell of maximum size, the initial cell, forms within the auxospore thus beginning a new generation.

[womanlives]

i healed up alright, but it took a long time. ( but also clar/des)

Desandra looks up from the scrap she’s sorting through. Spacer stations — ‘specially the ones near bigger planets — got the best shit, if you know where to look for it. Clarence is on the other side of the scrap pile, wrestling with an old, broken-down console. There’s a window behind him: two feet of fused silica glass. The view is incredible. Too many stars to count. The occasional freight ship cutting across the dark. The orange-sized outline of a planet she’s never been to, with three looping moons.

Her brow furrows. “I’m sorry,” she says, slowly, and a little bit hesitantly. Because she knows she wasn’t the one who hurt him — but it’s also her fault she couldn’t know him sooner. She picks up a half-shorn drone-armor frame and rips into the metal with her bare hands. Metal whines. It hurts, but she doesn’t stop. The anger has to go somewhere. Beneath her fingers, the frame twists, but does not snap.

Her eyes never leave Clarence.

“Do you think — ”

Another metal screech. The rough edge of the drone-armor bites hungrily into her palms. She should let go. She doesn’t. Desandra closes her eyes, tightens her grip, and tries again.

“People like us. You and me.” No need to elaborate what she means by that. He’ll get it. She knows he will. They’re both people who should’ve died tens of times ago. Now it’s strange. Now it’s a weird in-between. Now sometimes she wonders whether it’s a matter of can’t, or won’t. “Sometimes, when you’re not around, I think I might never heal up. All right, I mean. Heal up all right.” Heal up whole.

She finally looks down at the frame in her hands. It’s twisted beyond all belief, but still stands. Something catches her eye: a small, bright sticker, clinging for dear life near its edge. Des blinks, brings it closer to her face. “Hey.” She lifts the frame for Clarence to see. There’s a grin on her face as she points to the sticker. “Look.”

In bold, pink tacky lettering: PAPARINA’S ORCHARDS. And underneath it: a basket of fruit. Some she recognizes, others she doesn’t. And, last but not least, Grown organically on Planet XZ-II. The last few roman numerals are faded off, but that doesn’t matter. There’s a faint but undeniable glow in the depths of Desandra’s eyes. Excitement.

“We should go, yeah? Can’t remember the last time we got you fresh fruit. Think you can decipher the planet? Plot us a course?” Hole gone, fear forgotten. Even if it’s far away, she won’t mind. She could use it. The long time.

@tewwor babies only

[chemanalystdata]

Fused Silica Prices | Pricing | Trend | News | Database | Chart | Forecast

 Fused Silica, a high-purity material derived from silica (SiO2), is essential in various industries due to its exceptional properties, such as low thermal expansion, high chemical resistance, and excellent transparency to ultraviolet light. Over the past few years, fused silica prices have experienced significant fluctuations, driven by several market factors, including raw material availability, production costs, and shifts in demand across sectors like electronics, semiconductors, optics, and photonics.

One of the key factors influencing fused silica prices is the availability of high-purity quartz, the primary raw material used in its production. High-purity quartz deposits are relatively rare, and the extraction process is both capital- and labor-intensive, adding to the material's cost. Moreover, the global demand for fused silica has been steadily rising, particularly in the semiconductor and photovoltaic industries, where it is used in the manufacturing of integrated circuits and solar cells. This increased demand has created a tight supply market, driving prices higher, especially in periods of economic growth when technological industries expand rapidly.

Get Real Time Prices for Fused Silica: https://www.chemanalyst.com/Pricing-data/fused-silica-1591

Another factor contributing to the rise in fused silica prices is the complex manufacturing process involved in producing this material. Fused silica is typically created by melting high-purity quartz at extremely high temperatures, a process that requires advanced technology and significant energy inputs. With global energy prices also fluctuating, particularly due to geopolitical tensions or shifts in supply chains, the cost of producing fused silica has been subject to volatility. This is compounded by the fact that fused silica production is highly sensitive to contamination, meaning that maintaining the stringent quality standards required for use in high-tech industries adds another layer of expense.

In addition to raw material costs and energy prices, environmental regulations also play a role in shaping the market for fused silica. As many countries implement stricter environmental laws, particularly regarding the use of hazardous chemicals and emissions from industrial processes, manufacturers of fused silica must invest in cleaner technologies or face penalties. These investments often translate into higher production costs, which are then passed on to consumers. In recent years, the trend toward sustainable manufacturing practices has intensified, further pressuring prices upward as producers shift toward greener processes.

The global economic landscape also affects fused silica prices. During periods of economic downturn or uncertainty, demand from sectors like automotive, aerospace, and construction may decrease, leading to a temporary softening of prices. However, the long-term trend has been upward, largely due to the consistent and growing demand from the electronics and semiconductor industries. The rise of technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy sources has fueled the need for more advanced and precise materials like fused silica, which plays a crucial role in enabling these innovations.

Trade policies and tariffs between major silica-producing and silica-consuming countries also impact pricing. For example, tariffs imposed on Chinese exports of quartz or silica-related products can lead to higher prices globally, as China is one of the largest suppliers of raw materials in this industry. Similarly, shifts in currency exchange rates can influence the cost of imports and exports, creating additional price volatility. In recent years, the ongoing tensions between the United States and China have contributed to uncertainties in the fused silica market, as manufacturers and suppliers navigate changing trade regulations and potential disruptions in supply chains.

The future of fused silica pricing will likely be shaped by several emerging trends. One key trend is the growth of the renewable energy sector, particularly solar energy. Fused silica is a critical material in the production of photovoltaic cells, and as governments and corporations worldwide prioritize clean energy solutions, the demand for fused silica in this application is expected to grow. Another important trend is the ongoing development of the semiconductor industry, especially as technological advancements push the boundaries of what integrated circuits and microchips can achieve. With the increasing complexity of these components, the demand for high-purity materials like fused silica is projected to remain strong.

In conclusion, fused silica prices are influenced by a variety of factors, ranging from raw material availability and production costs to global demand and economic conditions. As industries like electronics, semiconductors, and renewable energy continue to expand, the demand for high-quality fused silica is expected to rise, potentially driving prices higher in the coming years. At the same time, manufacturers face increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices and meet stringent environmental standards, further contributing to production costs. While market conditions may fluctuate in the short term, the long-term outlook for fused silica prices points toward continued growth, driven by the material's essential role in enabling cutting-edge technologies and innovations.

Get Real Time Prices for Fused Silica: https://www.chemanalyst.com/Pricing-data/fused-silica-1591

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[nuadox]

New fossil brings us a step closer to unravelling the mystery of feather evolution

- By Zixiao Yang , Maria McNamara , University College Cork , The Conversation -

Strong but light, beautiful and precisely structured, feathers are the most complex skin appendage that ever evolved in vertebrates. Despite the fact humans have been playing with feathers since prehistory, there’s still a lot we don’t understand about them.

Our new study found that some of the first animals with feathers also had scaly skin like reptiles.

Following the debut of the first feathered dinosaur, Sinosauropteryx prima, in 1996, a surge of discoveries has painted an ever more interesting picture of feather evolution.

We now know that many dinosaurs and their flying cousins, the pterosaurs, had feathers. Feathers came in more shapes in the past – for example, ribbon-like feathers with expanded tips were found in dinosaurs and extinct birds but not in modern birds. Only some ancient feather types are inherited by birds today.

Paleobiologists have also learnt that early feathers were not made for flying. Fossils of early feathers had simple structures and sparse distributions on the body, so they may have been for display or tactile sensing. Pterosaur fossils suggest they may have played a role in thermoregulation and in colour patterning.

Fascinating as these fossils are, ancient plumage tells only part of the story of feather evolution. The rest of the action happened in the skin.

The skin of birds today is soft and evolved for the support, control, growth and pigmentation of feathers, unlike the scaly skin of reptiles.

Fossils of dinosaur skin are more common than you think. To date, however, only a handful of dinosaur skin fossils have been examined on a microscopic level. These studies, for example a 2018 study of four fossils with preserved skin, showed that the skin of early birds and their close dinosaur relatives (the coelurosaurs) was already very much like the skin of birds today. Bird-like skin evolved before bird-like dinosaurs came around.

So to understand how bird-like skin evolved, we need to study the dinosaurs that branched off earlier in the evolutionary tree.

Our study shows that at least some feathered dinosaurs still had scaly skin, like reptiles today. This evidence comes from a new specimen of Psittacosaurus, a horned dinosaur with bristle-like feathers on its tail. Psittacosaurus lived in the early Cretaceous period (about 130 million years ago), but its clan, the ornithischian dinosaurs, diverged from other dinosaurs much earlier, in the Triassic period (about 240 million years ago).

In the new specimen, the soft tissues are hidden to the naked eye. Under ultraviolet light, however, scaly skin reveals itself in an orange-yellow glow. The skin is preserved on the torso and limbs which are parts of the body that didn’t have feathers.

These luminous colours are from silica minerals that are responsible for preserving the fossil skin. During fossilisation, silica-rich fluids permeated the skin before it decayed, replicating the skin structure with incredible detail. Fine anatomical features are preserved, including the epidermis, skin cells and skin pigments called melanosomes.

The fossil skin cells have much in common with modern reptile skin cells. They share a similar cell size and shape and they both have fused cell boundaries – a feature known only in modern reptiles.

The distribution of the fossil skin pigment is identical to that in modern crocodile scales. The fossil skin, though, seems relatively thin by reptile standards. This suggests the fossil scales in Psittacosaurus were also similar in composition to reptile scales.

Reptile scales are hard and rigid because they are rich in a type of skin-building protein, the tough corneous beta proteins. In contrast, the soft skin of birds is made of a different protein type, the keratins, which are the key structural material in hair, nails, claws, hooves and our outer later of skin.

To provide physical protection, the thin, naked skin of Psittacosaurus must have been composed of tough reptile-style corneous beta proteins. Softer bird-style skin would have been too fragile without feathers for protection.

Collectively, the new fossil evidence indicates that Psittacosaurus had reptile-style skin in areas where it didn’t have feathers. The tail, which preserves feathers in some specimens, unfortunately did not preserve any feathers or skin in our specimen.

However, the tail feathers on other specimens show that some bird-like skin features must have already evolved to hold feathers in place. So our discovery suggests that early feathered animals had a mix of skin types, with bird-like skin only in feathered regions of the body, and the rest of the skin still scaly, like in modern reptiles.

This zoned development would have ensured that the skin protected the animal against abrasion, dehydration and pathogens.

What next?

The next knowledge gap for scientists to explore is the evolutionary transition from the reptile-style skin of Psittacosaurus to the skin of other more heavily feathered dinosaurs and early birds.

We also need more experiments studying the process of fossilisation itself. There is a lot we don’t understand about how soft tissues fossilise, which means it is difficult to tell which skin features in a fossil are real biological features and which are simply artefacts of fossilisation.

Over the last 30 years, the fossil record has surprised scientists in regard to feather evolution. Future discoveries of fossil feathers may help us understand how dinosaurs and their relatives evolved flight, warm-blooded metabolisms, and how they communicated with each other.

Zixiao Yang, Postdoctoral researcher, University College Cork and Maria McNamara, Professor, Palaeobiology, University College Cork

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Header image: The studied Psittacosaurus under natural (upper half) and UV light (lower half). Credit: Zixiao Yang (author provided).

Read Also

Evolution: Primitive fish fossils reveal origins of teeth

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Study reveals inconsistency in nanoindentation testing using different Berkovich indenters

Nanoindentation testing is a high-precision instrumented indentation test technique that has the advantages of non-destructive testing and simplicity. However, researchers found that when testing the same sample with different Berkovich indenters, inconsistency still arises even if the indenters are regularly calibrated. This inconsistency poses challenges in accurately testing material hardness and comparing data from different laboratories. In a study published in the Journal of Materials Research and Technology, researchers from the Materials Research Center of the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) reported that using different Berkovich indenters for nanoindentation testing, excluding fused silica, yields inconsistent results, and they analyzed the reasons behind this inconsistency. The researchers identified two main factors contributing to the inconsistent experimental results, i.e., defects in the indenter tip and the indentation size effect.

Read more.

[miteshrao20]

Fused Silica Glass - Alfa Heaters Fused silica quartz glass rod is mainly used in electric light sources, electrical appliances (electric), semiconductor, optical communications, military industry, and other fields. Call us now!

[coecrystaloptics]

Quality UV Fused Silica Windows

Coe Optics is a leading manufacturer of high-quality UV fused silica windows. Our windows are made from synthetic fused silica, We offers excellent transmission in the UV, visible, and near-infrared regions. Coe Optics' UV fused silica windows are ideal for a wide range of applications, including laser systems, spectroscopy, and imaging. With a low coefficient of thermal expansion and excellent thermal shock resistance, Our windows can withstand high temperatures and rapid temperature changes without damage. Trust Coe Optics for reliable and precise UV fused silica windows that meet your exact specifications.

[fishgut]

Collision frequency of artificial satellites: The creation of a debris belt Donald J. Kessler, Burton G. Cour-Palais First published: 1 June 1978 https://doi.org/10.1029/JA083iA06p02637 Citations: 564 PDFPDF Tools Share Abstract

As the number of artificial satellites in earth orbit increases, the probability of collisions between satellites also increases. Satellite collisions would produce orbiting fragments, each of which would increase the probability of further collisions, leading to the growth of a belt of debris around the earth. This process parallels certain theories concerning the growth of the asteroid belt. The debris flux in such an earth-orbiting belt could exceed the natural meteoroid flux, affecting future spacecraft designs. A mathematical model was used to predict the rate at which such a belt might form. Under certain conditions the belt could begin to form within this century and could be a significant problem during the next century. The possibility that numerous unobserved fragments already exist from spacecraft explosions would decrease this time interval. However, early implementation of specialized launch constraints and operational procedures could significantly delay the formation of the belt.

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But if we make it to Mars and then accidentally contaminate the planet with our literal shit, it might be harder to answer this question. How would we know if the life we find on Mars is truly Martian, or something that’s come from Earth? And if our microbes from Earth take a liking to Mars and spread, there may be no way to undo that.

The UN Outer Space Treaty — signed in 1967, two years before the Apollo 11 landing — stipulates that member states “shall avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies.” That may be difficult if we get to Mars because wherever we go, our fecal matter goes too. Thinking about poop on the moon helps us think about a possible origin of life on Earth

As new missions to the moon are planned, we need to think carefully about the need to preserve the artifacts left at the Apollo landing sites. NPR’s Nell Greenfieldboyce recently reported that just landing within 100 meters of an Apollo site could potentially damage it.

Protecting the history of human exploration on the moon also means protecting the garbage — its historic value is immense, but so is its scientific value. We need to preserve these sites so scientists can return to them and take samples.

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The European-built Cupola was added to the International Space Station in 2010 and continues to provide the best room with a view anywhere.

In addition to serving as an observation and work area when the crew operates the Station’s robotic arms, it also provides excellent views of Earth, celestial objects and visiting vehicles.

Its fused-silica and borosilicate-glass windows, however, sometime suffer from impacts by tiny artificial objects: space debris.

ESA astronaut Tim Peake took this photo from inside Cupola last month, showing a 7 mm-diameter circular chip gouged out by the impact from a tiny piece of space debris, possibly a paint flake or small metal fragment no bigger than a few thousandths of a millimetre across. The background just shows the inky blackness of space.

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Space debris targeted for orbital cleanup has been hit, possibly by other space debris

The payload adaptor from a 2013 launch by the European Space Agency has been fragmented by a collision in orbit, officials say

In May, the ESA announced it would be the target of the ClearSpace-1 mission, an “active debris removal mission” designed to fly to VESPA, grab it, and then burn up during reentry, destroying both itself and the space junk. The plan was to launch as early as the first half of 2026.

Now that mission is in doubt. “On 10 August 2023, ESA’s Space Debris Office was informed by the United States 18th Space Defense Squadron that new objects have been detected in the vicinity of (the) payload adapter,” the space agency said in a press release on Tuesday.