You can tell a lot about a material based on the type of light shining at it: Optical light illuminates a material's surface, ...

If you've ever watched a glass blower at work, you've seen a material behaving in a very special way. As it cools, the viscosity of molten glass increases steadily but gradually, allowing it to be ...

The geopolitical conversation might be about minerals, but the technological need is for materials. The distinction is important, writes.