Professor Peter J. Uggowitzer was never officially my mentor or supervisor -- neither during my studies nor in my former postdoc in Leoben. Yet, his presence and friendship over all these years have profoundly shaped both my personal and professional life. Through him, I learned not just metallurgy, but how to think metallurgy -- how … Continue reading The Spirit of Metallurgy at 75 Years Strong
The discovery of hycean worlds – planets with global oceans and hydrogen-rich atmospheres – has reshaped our hunt for habitable environments beyond the solar system. One such world, K2-18 b, has now taken centre stage. Using the powerful James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), scientists recently analysed its atmosphere and confirmed the presence of carbon-bearing molecules like … Continue reading Possible Biosignatures of Life Detected on Distant Hycean World
A fascinating research paper recently caught my attention: it documents the final images captured by the Voyager 1 spacecraft before its cameras were permanently shut down. While the images themselves are breathtaking, what truly stood out to me was the incredible effort behind protecting the spacecraft from radiation damage as it ventured farther from the … Continue reading The last set of images taken by Voyager 1 spacecraft
The scientific magazine Nature has just released a very interesting list of 10 scientists that shaped the science in 2024. I enjoyed a lot, particularly by its diversity! The recognition Li Chunlai (China Academy of Sciences/China National Space Administration) received is really well-deserve: the first scientist to analyze samples retrieved for the first-time from the … Continue reading Ten people who helped shape science: the Nature’s 10 of 2024
Exploring Alloys in the Al-Mg-Si System for Space Applications The Master Thesis of our postgraduate researcher Ms. Sandra Gonzaga is now online and available for download at: https://pureadmin.unileoben.ac.at/portal/en/publications/development-and-characterisation-of-an-ultrafinegrained-almgsi-alloy-for-space-applications(5be5ba38-321f-47bf-99e5-4f72ccebef4e).html?customType=theses In the race to conquer the cosmos, materials science plays a pivotal role in enabling the development of spacecraft and satellites capable of withstanding the harsh realities … Continue reading [X-MAT]’s Master Thesis of Sandra Gonzaga is now online!
On October 1, 2024, Sandra Gonzaga, our Master Student, reached an impressive milestone in her academic journey, successfully defending her Master's thesis with the highest grade of “Sehr gut” (1). Her remarkable research has broken new ground in the study of aluminium alloys within the Al–Mg–Si system, designed specifically for space applications. Prof. Pogatscher, Sandra, … Continue reading Celebrating Sandra’s Successful Master’s Thesis Defense
India and China are set to collaborate with Russia on a pioneering lunar project to establish a nuclear power plant on the moon. Led by Russia’s Rosatom, this project aims to generate up to half a megawatt of energy to support a lunar base. Both India and China have expressed strong interest in joining this … Continue reading India, China, and Russia set to collaborate on lunar nuclear microreactor development
In a groundbreaking move that has sent ripples through the scientific press, Russia and China have announced plans to join forces for an ambitious collaborative space mission. The focal point of this partnership? The installation of nuclear-powered reactors on the surface of the moon by 2035, marking a significant leap forward in humanity's quest for … Continue reading Collaborative Efforts Aim for Lunar Nuclear Power Amidst Materials Challenges
Screenshots on the reception of our work in press on several languages!
Materials at Extremes 