I haven't updated my journal in exactly 1001 page views.

I guess I should,
I am heading of to college next month where I plan to study ceramic engineering. I have been interested in geology and especially mineralogy for many years now. In geology you use the properties of minerals to identify them and understand their origin and structure, while in ceramic engineering you do the reverse. You are trying to design a material to fulfill the specifications you start with.

I have 2 examples of this:
First, the tiles on the US space shuttles. The shuttle creates an enormous amount of heat on the bottom surfaces of the craft during reentry though the atmosphere. To protect the people, electronics and structure of the shuttle an incredibility insulating material was developed. It was a ceramic like flower pots or toilets but of a different make-up.

Second, Superconductors. A superconductor conducts electricity with no resistance. This means that if you take a loop of superconducting material and start an electric current in it it will flow for ever! Superconductor also allow for long distance distribution of electricity with no losses. The current difficulties are the low temperatures at which superconduction occurs. For example, the current highest temperature at which the best superconductor works is 211°F (-135°C). But this is constantly changing as the technology advances. The other limitations of superconductors is flexibility. Most practicable superconductors are ceramics which are normally hard and brittle. This makes it very difficult to make the flexible cable that would be required for large scale power distribution.

Ceramics can be designed to be very hard(Silicon Carbide,) heat resistant (space shuttles,) or conductive. Its sounds very interesting.

In other news I am planing to go to Colorado later this month to do some camping, hiking, rafting, and most importantly... rock hounding. I plan to go to the top of a mountain and collect gem quality aquamarines. It should be fun whether we find any or not.

Well, that's about it... I probably won't update again for another 1000 page views.

Have a nice day...

P.S. I'm still working on lightning photography... looking for good vantage points and the good storms.