Research Center for Advanced Ceramics - RCAC

Congralutions Finalists!🤩

“Here we go!” yelled Yuri Gagarin on this day 65 years ago as his rocket blasted off from Earth. Today we celebrate International Day of Human Space Flight thanks to Yuri Gagarin, who first orbited the globe and returned safely to Earth.

A lot of research carried out in space exploration couldn’t be done without nuclear science and technology. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) uses highly sensitive nuclear techniques to take samples and measurements. Nuclear reactors and radioisotope thermoelectric generators, which convert radioactive material into electricity, are also used to power spacecraft, like unmanned space probes and satellites, because of their ability to provide a long-lasting supply of energy. This has allowed scientists to go farther into space and study new, uncharted areas, like with NASA’s Curiosity rover, which is equipped with this technology and was sent off to explore Mars in 2011.

Fine tuning nanoscale heat flows, quantum battery charges faster when it gets bigger, and other materials stories that may be of interest for April 8, 2026. https://ceramics.org/ceramic-tech-today/other-materials-stories-that-may-be-of-interest-751

Electrified Thermal Solutions, a startup spun out from MIT research in 2021, just fired up a demo thermal battery that can hit 1,800 degrees Celsius — hot enough to make steel, cement, or chemicals. The battery uses power from the grid to heat its custom bricks when electricity is cheap. When a factory needs hot air later, it’s provided by the superheated bricks.

It’s also less expensive to use than natural gas, so factories don’t need a climate goal to be convinced to make the switch. Electricity is already a cheaper heat source than natural gas, but in the past factories haven’t been able to feasibly use it with their equipment.

“We can charge up with the cheapest electricity during hours of low prices, and this can save you 15%, 20%, 30% on your heating bill,” says Daniel Stack, cofounder and CEO of Electrified Thermal Solutions and an MIT Nuclear Science and Engineering alum.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91479411/this-battery-company-from-mit-helps-factories-ditch-fossil-fuels-for-cheap-renewable-power