Throughout history, humanity has poured its greatest minds, resources, and energy into two competing endeavours — the pursuit of knowledge, and the pursuit of conflict. The choice between them could not be more consequential. War destroys. It consumes lives, erases cultures, and sets civilisations back by generations. Whatever political aims it serves, its legacy is … Continue reading An Humanist Perspective in 2026
The passing of Sir Peter Hirsch on September 12th 2025, marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in the story of metallurgy and materials science. Professor Hirsch, who escaped Nazi Germany as a child through the Kindertransport, went on to redefine how we see the inner world of metals. His pioneering use of transmission electron … Continue reading Farewell to Professor Peter Hirsch — A Giant in Metallurgy and a Gentle Soul
In early 2014, while conducting a literature review for my Master's thesis at the University of São Paulo, I visited the library of the Institute of Physics (IFUSP), my alma mater, to search for papers dating back to the origins of nuclear materials research. At the time, I was a curious 22-year-old, freshly graduated physicist. … Continue reading David J. Mazey: Scientist, Pioneer in Nuclear Materials
Materials at Extremes 