Category: science

Transforming the Aluminum Industry through Recycling

~ Matheus A. Tunes ~ Leave a comment

In the pioneering work of PhD student Sebastian Samberger, the spotlight shines on aluminum recycling as a beacon of sustainability within the metals industry. Samberger's thorough analysis underscores the significant environmental challenges posed by the primary production of aluminum, including high energy consumption and CO2 emissions from non-renewable energy sources. Through his research, Samberger eloquently … Continue reading Transforming the Aluminum Industry through Recycling

Coal power, definitively not an option!

~ Matheus A. Tunes ~ Leave a comment

Fine-particles containing sulfur oxide originating from coal power stations are related to a significant increase in mortality risks. This is a result of a comphreensive study just published at the Science magazine last month. I think it is now clear that we must act to stop further uses of coal as an energy source! HENNEMAN, … Continue reading Coal power, definitively not an option!

Advancing microreactor materials technology: Next stop, the Moon!

~ Matheus A. Tunes ~ Leave a comment

Miniaturizing nuclear reactors offers a robust solution for generating reliable and efficient electricity, crucial for supporting human missions beyond Earth. Such miniturization is not at all an easy task. I have been pursuing research in this area since 2015, when we designed a ~ 3x3 metre-sized small nuclear reactor core for biological shielding optimization studies. … Continue reading Advancing microreactor materials technology: Next stop, the Moon!

Consolidating nanocrystalline aluminium crossover alloys for extreme environments

~ Matheus A. Tunes ~ Leave a comment

We are re currently exploring nanocrystalline aluminum alloys to understand how they perform in extreme conditions such as energetic particle irradiation and high temperatures. Aluminum alloys are ideal for challenging environments, given their versatility, lightweight nature, and favorable properties. In a recent preprint led by Patrick Willenshofer, we discovered and reported for the first time … Continue reading Consolidating nanocrystalline aluminium crossover alloys for extreme environments

Metal Hydrides will Enable Space Exploration

~ Matheus A. Tunes ~ Leave a comment

I am glad to share with the community our newest paper on the fabrication of pure and bulk delta-phase Zirconium Hydride for use as moderators in microreactors. 50 days' free access here: https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1hv1X_UwYx0wLC Hydride moderators are envisaged for use in nuclear reactors for neutron thermalization, i.e., to reduce the kinetic energy of fast-born neutrons. This … Continue reading Metal Hydrides will Enable Space Exploration

A New Era Beckons: The Epoch of Nanometallurgy

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Casting metallic alloys is a primary human activity since the ancient times. Now, by using advanced methods of electron microscopy coupled with the advent of micro-electromechanical devices (MEMS), Diego Coradini and Professor Stefan Pogatscher led a scientific team to a study that demonstrates the feasibility to cast metallic alloys at the nanoscale. Coradini et al. … Continue reading A New Era Beckons: The Epoch of Nanometallurgy

It is time to talk about toxic culture in academia and scientific research as well!

~ Matheus A. Tunes ~ Leave a comment

Just sharing a very nice article from MIT Sloan management review on toxic culture and its effects in workplace environments... I think it is time for us to talk about toxic culture in science and academia as well! https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/why-every-leader-needs-to-worry-about-toxic-culture/ Twenty percent of employees have left a job because of its culture.iiReplacing an employee can cost … Continue reading It is time to talk about toxic culture in academia and scientific research as well!

Magnetic nanoislands: our interview to “Jornal da USP”

~ Matheus A. Tunes ~ Leave a comment

Our interview to Journal da USP is now online, in Portuguese: https://jornal.usp.br/ciencias/liga-metalica-esconde-material-magnetico-com-potencial-para-aprimorar-dispositivos-eletronicos/ A link with an English translation provided by Google is here: https://jornal-usp-br.translate.goog/ciencias/liga-metalica-esconde-material-magnetico-com-potencial-para-aprimorar-dispositivos-eletronicos/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US