All articles tagged with #silica
A new study indicates Mercury’s surface contains approximately 37% silicon dioxide by mass, a figure up to 25% lower than previous estimates. This suggests the planet’s volcanic rocks originated from deeper, hotter mantle material than previously assumed. The findings, published in Planetary Research, rely on a novel calibration method validated against lunar data.
A private startup, Stardust Solutions, publicly details its plan to cool the Earth by dispersing sunlight-reflecting amorphous silica particles high in the atmosphere, sharing six studies ahead of peer review. The company envisions two particle designs and systems to disperse and monitor them, aiming for possible deployment by 2035 with projected revenue around $1.5 billion, after raising about $75 million. While framed as a scientifically rigorous approach, critics warn that solar geoengineering does not address fossil-fuel driving warming and raise concerns about self-governance and international oversight as the technology moves toward potential use.
A Nature study shows that carbon-rich coatings on volcanic ash particles enable charge transfer during collisions in hot updrafts, solving how dry volcanic plumes generate lightning. The coating can form when silica is heated in ambient air, creating the conditions needed for charging and producing the intense lightning observed in eruptions like Hunga Tonga.
Engineered quartz countertop dust containing crystalline silica is driving a silicosis outbreak among U.S. countertop fabricators, with California reporting 519 confirmed cases and 29 deaths since 2019. Young workers, many in their 30s–40s, face irreversible lung damage and some require lung transplants. The rise has sparked lawsuits and a heated policy debate over manufacturer liability and OSHA protections, as lawmakers weigh bills to shield industry from civil suits. International experience from Israel and Australia shows the risk persists despite controls, and U.S. surveillance remains fragmented under current regulations.
New research reveals that water from Earth's surface can penetrate deep into the planet, causing a chemical interaction at the core-mantle boundary. This interaction creates a thin layer of material, known as the 'E prime' layer, which has puzzled geologists for decades. The study shows that water reacts with silicon in the core, forming silica and creating a top core layer rich in hydrogen. The presence of this layer affects the density and seismic speeds of the outer core, potentially impacting Earth's magnetic field and the global water cycle. The findings suggest a more dynamic core-mantle interaction and a complex water cycle within the planet.
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected tiny quartz crystals containing silica in the atmosphere of the exoplanet WASP-17b. The nanoparticles of silica likely swirl from the clouds of the planet, which is a gas giant located 1,300 light-years from Earth. This discovery provides insights into the materials that form planetary environments different from Earth and helps scientists understand the composition of hot gas giants like WASP-17b. The sensitive detections by the Webb telescope allow researchers to better understand the atmospheres and weather on planets outside our solar system.
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have accidentally discovered a low-cost method to enhance the effectiveness of existing drugs by loading them into thermally-modified silica particles. The altered particles can retain chemicals and control their release rate, providing an avenue for improved drug delivery systems and a new understanding of biomineralization. The discovery offers a new tool for making existing drugs more effective and has the potential to create new versions of existing drugs that could be more effective or have fewer unwanted side effects.
Bohemia Interactive's new game Silica, an RTS-FPS hybrid, allows players to switch between commanding from an aerial perspective and fighting on the ground. While the game is still in early development, playing as a crab-like alien is a highlight. However, the lack of tutorials and direction make the game feel directionless, and the RTS and FPS elements lack depth. Silica is set to arrive on Steam early access for around one year.
Bohemia Interactive has announced Silica, a first-person shooter / real-time strategy game hybrid for PC, which will launch in Early Access via Steam “soon,” where it will remain for nine to 12 months with several major updates already lined up throughout the year. The game offers three game modes, including a flagship strategy mode that seamlessly combines both real-time strategy and first-person shooter elements, and is playable in any combination, up to a three-way conflict between factions. Silica is the first title to be fully “born” in the new era of the Bohemia Incubator, which aims to help cultivate the indie game dev scene primarily in the Czech Republic and help talented developers realize their dreams of proudly presenting their games to the world.
Bohemia Interactive has announced Silica, a new game that combines real-time strategy combat with first-person shooting action. The game will be available on Windows PC via Steam Early Access and promises three gameplay modes. Silica will be available in an early access period of 9-12 months.