#Optical Coating Industry

[adroit--2022]

North America is projected to dominate the Optical Coating market with a share of ~40% by 2025 and Asia Pacific is regarded as the key growth region with...

[evonnebaker]

Technologically enhanced manufacturing and development of advanced components to propel the demand for optical coatings across electronics, telecommunications, automotive, healthcare and energy industries

[snehalpatil789]

North America is projected to dominate the Optical Coating market with a share of ~40% by 2025 and Asia Pacific is regarded as the key growth region with CAGR of 10.3% over the forecast period owing to high demand in consumer electronics and telecom sector.

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Stability of rings of atoms in glass materials can help predict performance of glass products

Glass is being used in a wider range of high-performance applications, including those for consumers and industry, military and aerospace electronics, coatings and optics. Because of the extreme precision demanded for use in products such as mobile phones and jet aircraft, glass substrates must not change their shape during the manufacturing process. Corning Incorporated, a manufacturer of innovative glass, ceramics and related materials, invests a tremendous amount of resources into studying the stability of different types of glass. Recently, Corning researchers found that understanding the stability of the rings of atoms in glass materials can help them predict the performance of glass products. This capability is important because the most widely used glass is silicate glass, which consists of different sizes of atomic rings connected in three dimensions. Conducting neutron scattering experiments at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL and Corning scientists discovered that as the number of smaller, less-stable atomic rings in a glass increases, the instability, or liquid fragility, of the glass also increases.

Read more.

[sagitariusrising]

I Let The Beast in Too Soon

“I let the beast in too soon, I don't know how to live without my hand on his throat, I fight him always and still. Oh darling, it's so sweet, you think you know how crazy, how crazy I am. You say you don't spook easy, you won't go, but I know, And I pray that you will…”

A man with silver hair meets a woman covered in stars…

18+ content. Orson Krennic / OFC; Modern AU; Modern Rogue One tech interpretations; Boston setting; Defense Contractor!Krennic; Scientist!Krennic; Kyber Crystals; OFC with psychic abilities; Mentions of Wilhuff Tarkin, Galen Erso, Chirrut Îmwe, Baze Malbus; other characters forthcoming; clubbing; alcohol use; smut; mutual attraction dialed up to 11; safer sex practices; OFC doesn't have time for Krennic's games; emotional vulnerability from both characters; fear; Krennic is besotted; more tags to be added later

Word Count: 5450-ish

This story is inspired by the house on the bluff on the coast and my need to put Orson Krennic and his science in a modern setting.

Full courage!! This is my first full fic post ever and the story has lived rent-free in my head for years. Several of you have seen it, you know who you are, specifically @smolbeandrabbles (who was my first reader: OCs = my babies), and @pinksiamese (who gave me thoughtful and constructive feedback, edited what was needed, and kicked my rear end into gear). I owe a lot to @sufferthesea (and her perfect comm that helped form the entire planned story) There's more...

Playlist (in order)

The title comes from "Fast as You Can," by Fiona Apple: This song nicely encompasses the entire planned fic.

"More," by the Sisters of Mercy.

"Fascination Street," by The Cure

"Perfect Kiss," by New Order

"Natural One" by the Folk Implosion

"The Killing Moon," by Echo and the Bunnymen

OFCs faceclaim is here

***

A man with silver hair entered the club. 

Kary noticed him immediately, but who wouldn’t? Confident in his masculinity, pale suit, and haughty expression. He checked his coat at the door and surveyed the dance floor. 

Feigning disinterest, she peeked as he strode to the bar.  He raised his hand and ordered a drink. 

He’s too old to be here, he’s probably slumming tonight. Maybe he’s lost? Or meeting someone? 

That was it. Turning her attention back to the beat of the music, she lost herself in the dancing. Tonight’s venture away from home had a purpose: she needed the distraction, to get outside of her head. 

***

Clubbing in the theatre district hadn’t been part of Orson Krennic’s evening agenda. Tonight was supposed to be his big sendoff, but he’d left the festivities early, feeling let down and almost empty. 

The event had been part presentation, part retirement party. Krennic delivered his academic paper, titled “Nanotechnology and Optic Crystals: Military Applications of Laser Technology for Drone Warfare” at the banquet sponsored jointly by MIT and Tarkin Industries. A celebration, his last hurrah. 

Retired from the Navy with Captain stripes in place,  Krennic went to work in the private sector. For Wilhuff Tarkin, his rival both in school and in the service. Putting their differences aside, the two men had diligently worked to produce technology for military contracts. 

After five years, Krennic had become bored and embittered. Tarkin had regularly second-guessed and belittled his ideas and took more than his fair share of credit for their designs. Krennic was paid well and was respected in the industry--at least to his face. And he had all the status symbols: a penthouse apartment with a view of the waterfront, first name status at all the restaurants, and an expensive car. Plenty of beautiful women threw themselves at him, a rotation of bed partners whom he’d enjoy for the night and forget in the morning.

But the thrill was gone. 

Krennic was bored. He wanted something beyond the superficiality of business transactions and casual sex. His weapon designs had become repetitive, the innovation was gone. The social scene in Boston was dull and noisy. He began to entertain the possibility of a more substantial relationship, but the dating apps were bewildering: all of his matches were airbrushed women with parted lips who called him “Daddy.” 

Galen Erso was the zenith of his disillusion. They had been as thick as thieves in the Science Corps, had come up together in the Futures Program, attended MIT together, and become commissioned officers in the same unit in the Navy. They were like Oppenheimer and Groves: the crystal-based lasers they designed together were invaluable to the government and had been used for crushing conflict in countries across the globe. 

But Galen had seen the impact of their work in real-time, the bodies of civilians whom their weapons had struck down. Horrified and encouraged by his wife, Galen had resigned his commission, left the Navy, and settled on some organic farm in the middle of nowhere to raise a family. 

Krennic had seen Galen at a protest in front of Tarkin Industries. Disheveled, with long hair and hemp trousers, Galen had been carrying a sign that said STOP THE WEAPONS OF WAR and was leading a chant of REMEMBER THE INNOCENT. The next day, Krennic received an email with attached photos of dead bodies and destroyed cities. 

Deciding he needed an exit plan, Krennic spent extra hours at the lab, developing and testing a new application, nanotechnology with ion beams reflecting from lenses made from Kyberium.  Testing in the lab had proved successful, his field simulations had confirmed his hypotheses, and he’d been able to duplicate his results successfully. 

The power of the Kyberium was swift and deadly. Applying for a patent was easy and he had stealthily offered the technology to Raytheon. Krennic was going to get out of Boston, build a house up north by the ocean, and figure out the next chapter of his life.  

After the sale had gone through---a generous profit and a share of Raytheon’s proceeds in perpetuity---he had sold his shares in Tarkin Industries and resigned. Wihuff was furious, apoplectic. And humiliated when the paper Krennic had written about the technology had gotten noticed and published in a well-regarded academic journal. Forced to swallow his pride, Tarkin had arranged for Krennic to present the paper at tonight’s conference and combined the presentation with a retirement party. 

The applause had been thunderous. After the presentation, Krennic accepted a glass of scotch and made his way around the room, shaking hands and nodding at his peers' congratulations. Tarkin muttered “congratulations” and palmed over a shining point of Kyberium, Krennic nodded his thanks and slid the crystal into his pocket.  But the room was stuffy, the company boring, and there was too much fawning. He had already moved on. Krennic ducked out of the gala as soon as he could. 

***

He had boarded the subway with the intent of going home. But at the Theatre District stop, he’d made a spur-of-the-moment decision to get off the train and walk the remainder of the way. 

The sidewalks were crowded with theatergoers, tourists, and scads of people streaming in and out of the blocks of dance clubs. The music coming out of one of the clubs had stopped him: the tunes reminded him of his youth and decided he would have a drink and perhaps find some female company, he’d paid the ridiculous cover charge and gone in. 

The pulse of “More” by the Sisters of Mercy greeted him.  Through flashing lights and the crowd at the bar, the dance floor was packed. 

Meeting women was easy: his looks and obvious income made sure of that. But surveying the room, he thought blonde...brunette...too thin...too fat...too odd looking...taken...Christ, they’re all too young!” 

He ordered bourbon, tugged off his tie, and stuffed it in his pocket. Maybe he would just sit and enjoy the scenery. 

Leaning against the bar, he scanned the crowds. 

And found her. 

Twirling on the dance floor, a shapely redhead. Pale skin, with tattoos covering her shoulders and back. She wore a thin camisole and a flowy skirt made of silky material. Younger than him, but not a kid. She sang along to the music, oblivious to others. 

No dance partner. He watched her rebuff a man who slid up against her. Interesting…

The opening chords of “Fascination Street” by the Cure dropped from the speakers. 

Krennic watched the girl change her rhythm and sway her body to the music; enchanted to watch her run her hands over her shoulders and hips, twisting and turning. He’d found his mark for the evening. He ordered another bourbon and downed it. More courage, he needed a buzz to focus his concentration.

***

Kary was grieving: Baze and Imwe were dead, and their house was on the market. Nan had died two years ago. Her circle of protection, the friends who had helped her understand her powers and harness and control the visions. 

And the responsibility that had been left to her. She shook it off.

Just stop. Dance, get another drink. 

She twirled to the pulse of the music, hands in her hair. The song faded away. Out of breath, she turned to the bar. 

The silver-haired man was staring at her. 

She met his gaze. A jolt flared in her belly. He was cruelly handsome: tall, flinty blue eyes. And still alone. 

What is he doing here? 

Intrigued, she maneuvered to the bar. An empty seat allowed Kary a clear view. 

And why is he staring at me? 

Flagging down the bartender, she ordered a bottle of water.  She downed it in large gulps. Then, a gin and tonic. Triple limes. Her third, fourth drink of the night? She’d forgotten. 

…screw it.

She gulped her drink and swiped her hand across her face. the juniper tingled on her tongue. 

Tonight is for forgetting. 

He was still watching her.

***

Her bare back was half-turned towards him and Krennic’s eyes followed the lines of tattoos; they wrapped her back and shoulders, clear patterns of constellations: Cygnus, Lyra, Hercules, Draco, Capricorn, Sagittarius, Scorpio, Libra. His trained eye found the circumpolar patterns of Ursa Major and Minor, Cassiopeia, and Cepheus.

The night sky, he thought. Northern Hemisphere in the summertime. A slight smile tucked one corner of his mouth. She knows her astronomy.

Repositioning himself to get a better view, he continued to study her. Hair cascaded into tendrils of copper that glimmered in the colored lights. Damp with sweat, her camisole clung to her body, enhancing the round sweep of her waist and breasts. But her smile was unaffected, she seemed oblivious to the admiring glances. 

Including mine…

The music covered his growl. That body. 

Phantom sensations of her pressed against him, curves swaying on the dance floor. His cock stirred as he envisioned her hair spread across the sheets of his bed, his hands moving her hips to match his rhythm, that smile evolving into moans of pleasure.

Krennic put down his empty glass and signaled the bartender. “Another. And send a drink,” he said, raising his voice over the music, “to the redhead with the tattoos.”

He watched the bartender mix another drink and slide it in front of her. She shook her head. The bartender retracted it and poured her a shot of something instead. Krennic watched her toss it back and signal for another.

“Sorry, bro.” The bartender handed Krennic the refused cocktail. “The lady says no.”

Krennic smirked and stared down the bar. Her eyes met his; cool and savvy, gleaming with interest. No giggling or primping herself, no salacious expressions or fluttering of eyelashes: none of the usual female responses to his interest. But she was returning his appraising gaze, eyes drifting from his face, studying his body, drifting to below his waist. She met his eye again and seemed to remember herself, and her eyes darted away.  Then she shrugged and returned his smirk. She turned away. 

This girl is a rebel.  

His intrigue continued to grow. So did the lust coursing through him. He got up and strode towards her.

***

Kary focused her attention on the drink in front of her. 

Who is this guy? 

The way he held himself and the smirk on his face told her that he was used to getting what he wanted.

This is getting more and more interesting... he’s played this game before, but I’m not falling for run-of-the-mill games. 

“Not feeling thirsty?” 

His voice was rich and distinguished, gilded with an accent she couldn’t quite place: Australian? South African? 

He glared at the young man sitting next to her until he got up and left. 

Stomach flipping, Kary watched him take the vacated seat. She shook her head and looked him over; he was dressed in a crisp white shirt, pale grey slacks, cufflinks, and an expensive watch. The body beneath was broad through the chest and tapered at the waist. He had enormous hands. Close up, his eyes were shockingly blue, full of intelligence and cunning. 

Not as old as I thought. She studied his hair; up close, black threads wove through the silver.

He studied her too, eyes sweeping over her.

“Not feeling chatty, either?” 

Kary shook her head. She met his eyes and felt the familiar white noise in her head that was the precursor of…what she was drinking to block. She focused on his mouth instead, fearful that her eyes would give away the attraction she felt. 

Or see who he really is…

Finishing her drink and tilting her head towards the dance floor, Kary got up and walked away. 

***

Snubbed again. He watched her weave into the crowd. Or am I?

Krennic’s amusement deepened. His interest sharpened. This stunning woman wasn’t falling prey to his small talk and wasn't visibly impressed by his stature. His pride was wounded, but with every passing second, he felt she was worth the challenge. He wished he was still in the Navy; perhaps his dress whites would have made a stronger impression, but then again, she didn’t know who he was—his past, his work, his connections.

Even if she did, would she be impressed? 

He scanned the dance floor, found her twirling to the music. They locked eyes and she jerked her head.

New Order blasted from the DJ booth. “Perfect Kiss.” It was one of his favorites, with its gorgeous synth-pop bridge and climax. 

I haven’t danced informally for years. 

Downing the last of his bourbon, he straightened his shoulders and neck. He kept his eyes on her and removed his cufflinks, and rolled up his sleeves.

***

Keeping her back to the bar, Kary waited for the silver-haired man to join her. 

Will he accept the challenge? Or is he too proud to let go of himself?

Warmth settled up and down her back. The scent of expensive cologne and tobacco wrapped around her shoulders. Lips hovered close to her ear.

“May I touch you?”

That accent. She shivered, her thighs clenching together; she turned her head toward him. Nodded. Her hips filled his splayed hands. Kary’s head spun. He found the beat of the music with his body and buried his face in her hair, matching her pace. His fingers caressed through the silk of her clothes. His hard cock pressed against her backside. 

No attempt to hide that. She struggled with her breath.

The nine minutes of the song felt like an eternity, which then dissolved into “Natural One” by Folk Implosion.

He spun her around and locked eyes with her, slinging his arms over her shoulders. She didn’t know if it was the drink, the music, or just lust, but she pressed herself close to the man with the silver hair. Tugging her closer, he eased her into a thrusting movement that matched the beat of the song. He slipped a long muscular thigh between hers and she ground herself against him, fresh jolts of desire rattling her spine. His hand skimmed down her back and cradled her bottom, moved lower, and went under her skirt; she was wet, and if she kept going like this, she was going to come right there on the dance floor. 

I don’t care.

The white noise in her head dissolved into the red noise in her blood.

The music changed again.

***

The moody romance of Echo and the Bunnymen’s “Killing Moon” slowed the pace of the dancefloor. 

Krennic stepped back and let a sliver of air between them. Twirling her into a waltz-like move, he steered one steadying hand between her shoulders and dropped the other one to her hip. As the music swelled, he eased her into a backward dip and left a lingering kiss on the throat. 

She groaned.

Grinning, he drifted his lips up the curve of her neck.

He wanted more but the song ended and she pulled away from him.

“I’ll be back.” She made brief eye contact, then smirked. “But if I’m not, you should come find me.”

She walked away, trailing her fingers down his arm.

***

Pushing her way through the crowd of women in front of the ladies room, she found an empty single bathroom with a door. Locking herself in, washed her hands and studied herself in the mirror. She was flushed, hot. Her hair was a mess. 

Do I know what to do next? She steadied her breath. He’s a catch, that’s for sure…but why is he here? 

She wasn’t looking for a man. The dance floor was full of women who would gladly take her place. She had come to the club to escape her grief. He was just a bonus to the night, a sexy dance partner who could be filed away as a fantasy.

He’s fucking hot, but there is too much at stake. She pushed back from the sink. I’ve gotta lose him…like now.  

Running one hand through her snarled-up hair, she opened the door. 

What happened next was a blur.

***

Krennic grabbed her hips and pulled her against him. He kissed her full on the mouth, his tongue seeking hers. He grinned as she returned the kiss, once, twice then jerked her head away and buried her face in his neck, kissing along his jawline and running her fingers through his hair. 

Nails scraped against his scalp. Krennic growled and shoved her against the bathroom sink. Hoisting her up, he felt her legs wrap around his waist. Desire boiled over as she ground herself against him. Pushing her further back he kissed her chest, pushed his hands under her camisole and bra, and cupped her bare breasts, running his thumbs over her nipples. She thrust herself back against him, hands scrambling at the buttons on his shirt, growing more desperate and her hands traveled lower, the last button popped off and rattled against the floor. 

Chest bare, he grunted as she nipped at his collarbone, the sensation going straight to his cock. Pulling her back again against the sink, he yanked up her skirt, running his hands up her legs. Krennic couldn’t contain his smile at the whimpering sounds she made as he plunged his fingers past her panties and found her wet. 

Krennic pressed his fingers into her. Swirling and exploring, he grazed her clit and pressed harder as he heard her gasp.  Stopping, he lowered his mouth against her ear and whispered: 

“Is this for me? Did I do this to you?” His smile got wider as he met her eyes and watched her nod. 

Hooking his thumbs into the waistband of her panties, he drew them down. She spread her legs to pull them off entirely and reached for his belt. 

Her hands rubbed his cock through his pants, then stopped. Hissing at the friction, he looked down at her: she was frowning. 

“Do you have something?” Her voice was soft, but firm. 

Krennic mentally clawed his way out of his haze of lust. 

What? Something? Oh. Protection. 

Of course he didn’t have anything: tonight he hadn’t planned on an adventure with a strange woman.

Glancing around the room, he noticed a condom dispenser on the wall. Coins only. He had no change. 

Reluctantly pulling away from her, Krennic examined the dispenser. Bending his elbow, he jammed it against the machine. Once, twice, three times. The dispenser dented and clanged open, condoms scattering across the floor. Krennic grabbed a handful and tossed them on the edge of the sink. Problem solved. 

She grabbed the waist of his slacks and pulled him back to her. Another kiss then moved her face away.

Why wouldn’t she look at him?

And why was she avoiding kissing him on the mouth but letting him touch her everywhere else? 

Krennic resolved to get to the bottom of these questions right after…

An insistent nip under his ear brought him back to reality. Krennic responded with a bite to her neck and slid his hands back under her skirt. Less tentative this time, he thrust a finger directly into her warmth and slid his hand around her back, holding her steady as she gasped and teetered on the edge of the sink. The only way this was going to work was if she could keep her balance against the sink. Fucking in a public bathroom was something he hadn’t done in years and he certainly wasn’t going to take her on the filthy floor. 

She gasped as he pressed into her, she was so fucking wet, his palm pressing against her clit. Feeling her rub against him harder, he withdrew his hand. Krennic smirked as she whined in protest. He kept his voice light, teasing. 

“Feeling eager?”

Krennic’s belt buckle clattered as she unzipped his slacks, jerking them down along with his boxers.  Krennic saw her eyes widen as she boldly grasped him, stroking cock to the base, tightening and relaxing her grip. He groaned as he watched her lean forward and tease him with her tongue.   

Hissing, he pushed her head away and pushed himself against her heat as she dragged her nails across his chest. 

Reaching behind himself, Krennic fumbled for a condom. He had to get inside her. Hands shaking, he dropped the first condom on the floor. She had both hands on him, clenching, dragging. He couldn’t concentrate. Couldn’t open the fucking condom. 

Impatient, she released him and plucked the condom out of his hands.  Blinking in confusion, Krennic watched as she effortlessly opened the wrapper and with swift and triumphant ease, sheathed it over him.  

Grabbing her waist again, he tugged her up onto the sink. Her hand reached between them, and grasped his cock, Krennic covered her hand with his and allowed her to guide him…

Watching her carefully, Krennic saw her eyes go out of focus as he eased into her. Trying to go slowly, to savor her, he gripped her hips, grit his teeth, and fought the urge to bury himself completely into her. She fought him, covering his hands with hers again, threading her fingers over his. Krennic was startled at the sense of intimacy he felt, but this was forgotten as she pushed her hips against his, engulfing him in soft warmth. 

Groaning at the unexpected movement, he watched her, awed as she moved her body against his, bore down once, twice, and then trembled, and cried out. He felt her clench and pulse around him and realized that she was coming already. 

Krennic watched her bite her lips to smother her cries of pleasure. Feeling her go limp, he supported her body against his and continued to thrust into her. She was perfect: hair askew, face flushed, hands sliding across his chest. 

But she wouldn’t look him in the eye. 

Desperate to see her, Krennic pulled out, she whined and clutched at him. He roughly spun her around and pushed her against the sink. Gripping her hips, fingers digging into her soft flesh, he plunged back into her from behind, feeling himself grow harder as she moaned gratefully when he thrust back into her. Gasping, she moved her hips to match his rhythm. 

Burying his face in her hair, Krennic struggled to hold his composure. She was too far away from him, her hands and chest pressed against the sink. Keeping his thrusts shallow, he ran his hands over her back and shoulders and pulled her back against him. his hand roamed over her belly, caressing his fingernails across her breasts, he pressed his hand against her chest and drew her against him. 

He caught a glimpse of them in the mirror in front of the sink. Her face was a mask of pleasure. 

The mirror…

Krennic leaned closer, and whispered in her ear. 

“Look at me, little rebel…”

Her eyes met his in the mirror, feline green and heavy-lidded. She reached up and grasped his hair, shrieking as she came again, slamming her hips against his, keeping her eyes locked with his in the mirror. 

Krennic fucked her through her second orgasm. The combination of her pulsing around his cock with their eye contact and the new rhythm of her hips against him sent him over his own edge. His orgasm shot through him. He gasped, pounding himself into her, coming hard, blissful, dissolving. 

He continued to thrust through the aftershocks, burying his face in her neck, breathing in her scent, something floral, her sweat combined with his own. Moving his hand down her chest, over her belly, and back down between her legs, fingers brushing against her clit, grinning at her gasps. 

Images of tenderness flashed through his mind. Inviting her to his bed, drinking coffee, and lounging in bed with the newspaper. Her tattoos, the stars lining her shoulders and back:  maybe she would understand his work. 

Christ, I didn’t even know her name. 

Still inside her but receding, he wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck. Her hand moved against his, then up to his face. She kissed him. Once, twice...she didn’t pull away. 

Someone banged at the door. “Hurry up in there!!!”  

Krennic reluctantly pulled away, and withdrew from her, wincing. She made a mewling sound as she lowered her head. He pulled off the condom, washed his hands, and turned to her. She was meeting his eyes now. He reached for her...

“Will you excuse me?” 

Nodding, he adjusted himself, buttoning his shirt. 

“Just give me a minute”

Krennic stepped out, pushing against another couple trying to get in “Wait your fucking turn”. 

***

Kary sagged against the sink, body thrumming and trying to collect her thoughts. 

When their eyes locked in the mirror, Kary had a vision.

Shouting, fists slammed against tables. A panorama of explosions. The man’s voice, full of awe and pride. 

“Oh! It’s beautiful” 

Combined with his hands on her body, his cock thrusting, the vision had sent her over the edge.  The best sex she’d ever had. 

Her legs were wobbly, she was shocked at how empty she had felt when he pulled out. Turning around to see her backside in the mirror, Kary noticed marks on her hips. She was probably going to have bruises tomorrow. 

I don’t care…

But she did: the visions frightened her. His presence, his power. She was intrigued by the man with the silver hair. He was stern, but a tiny bit vulnerable, a skilled lover who had met her challenge. What was he like outside of this place? 

Hold on: you don't do things like this, you're drunk and lonely, the stars aligned and you let your guard down. 

The fear and desire were overwhelming, and he was waiting for her. 

Did he feel her power? 

Never mind, you’ve got to lose him. Go home and forget this ever happened. 

Cleaning herself up she noticed her panties under the sink, along with the button that had snapped from his shirt. 

Collecting herself, Kary opened the door. He was leaning against the wall, ankles crossed, head lowered. Raising his eyes to her, he bit his lip and gave a shy smile. He reached for her hand. 

“Hey, little rebel…”

Her stomach flipped as his blue eyes continued to plead with her: he had given her that look in the mirror. Kary felt the pulsing between her legs return. 

“I think this is yours.” She held up the button. 

His smile was boyish, the arrogance she had seen earlier was gone. He traced circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. 

Kary tucked it into his pants pocket. 

I need to get out of here. 

“Listen, I’ve got to...you know…” He jerked his head towards the men’s room. “Meet you at the bar?” 

She nodded, and his hand lingered on hers as he pulled away to stand in the short line. Kary backed away, keeping eye contact with him until she left the area. 

She had five minutes, tops. Weaving around the dance floors to the crowded bar, she pushed her way through and flagged the bartender. Throwing a wad of cash on the bar, Kary made her way to the coat check. 

***

Navigating his way back to the bar, Krennic was lost in thought. He was going to settle his bar tab, get her out of this club, and take her to his apartment. Maybe he’d fuck her again, but it wasn’t necessary tonight. He just wanted to hold her, wake up next to her. Get to know her, study the tattoos on her back up close. Figure out who this mystery girl was, and why this felt like something more than a casual fuck. 

She could be the start of something beautiful.

Signaling the bartender, Krennic tossed down a credit card. Signing off on his tab, he glanced around the bar. He surveyed the dance floor: no sign of her. A coil of concern bloomed into panic.  Flagging down the bartender again, Krennic asked “Have you seen the little redhead who was here earlier?” 

The bartender pointed behind him. “I think that’s her over there…” 

Krennic spun around and saw her at the coat check counter. 

She was leaving!

Fighting his way through the crowd, Krennic shouted “Wait!!! Don’t go!!! Please!!”  She glanced over her shoulder, and he caught her eye, pleading “Wait!! I don’t even know your name!”

Her eyes flashed with panic. What happened to the woman who had clung to him? 

Fuck!!

Krennic cursed out loud, shoving people out of his way. She was too far away from him! Stumbling towards the exit, he shoved the door open and ran onto the crowded street. Panicking, he looked left, right, searching desperately for her in the throngs of people. He couldn’t find her. 

Struggling against the impulse to punch out a window, a person, something, Krennic drove both hands into his hair, his heart pounding in despair. He was frantic, he had to find her, but how? 

He didn’t even know her name, how could he let her slip away?!?! 

An idea occurred to him. He pushed back into the club, through the crowds, and up to the bar. Almost shoving a young woman aside, he reached over and grabbed the bartender’s arm. 

“The redhead!? Did she pay by credit card? Do you know her name?!”

Shaking off Krennic's hand, the bartender said “No man, sorry. I’ve never seen her before tonight, she’s not a regular here”

“Did she pay with a credit card!?”

“No man, sorry. She paid with cash. If I were you I’d check your pockets. Lots of thieves come in here, gotta be careful…”

Krennic cursed aloud again, bar patrons staring at him. She couldn't have been a thief. He reached in his pockets. Wallet, money clip, cufflinks-all there. His credit cards and cash were intact, his watch was still on his wrist. He dug into his back pocket, hands finding the button from his shirt, and something else. 

He pulled out a bundle of silk and lace. Her panties. Despite himself, Krennic grinned. His little rebel had gotten the last word in. Now how the fuck could he find her? 

***

Heart hammering,  Kary fought back unplanned tears. He was frantic, heartbroken. She had heard him shout after her and almost had a change of heart. But she shoved the impulse aside and hurried out of the club. Pushing through the people on the sidewalk, she ducked into a parking garage and pressed herself against a retaining wall, hearing him holler in the streets. 

She looked for a way out. The parking garage had an exit at the opposite end. Pulling out her phone, she called an Uber to pick her up. She needed to get home, away from where he could find her.  

Baze and Îmwe had tried to teach her control her response to the Kyber crystals. But the visions were too overwhelming, unbearable. There was always a surge of power, blue and green fire.

And the silhouette of a man…

Dammit, this is no time to speculate, get out of here…

Looking up, she searched the shy. Through the glow of the city, she found the glint of the North Star and breathed through her panic.

Kary didn’t even know the silver-haired man’s name. It was better this way. 

***

Krennic paced back and forth. He had taken a cab home, muttering his address to the driver and sitting in the back, clenching his fists and trying to keep a handle on his panic and anger. 

He’d poured himself a bourbon, downed it, and poured another. The apartment, modern and sleek, seemed less like a home, too damn tidy. She would have been a beam of freshness and color to this place. 

The bourbon was getting to him and he was going to pay tomorrow. Krennic didn’t care, the drink wasn’t numbing his wounded pride and the confusing -imagined?- connection he felt with the redhead. He pulled her panties out of his pocket. Again. Stroking the soft silk, he remembered the groans of pleasure, her weight against him, her lips, his surprising feelings. 

It’s been a long time since you’ve wanted to take someone home with you. 

He clenched his fists, downed the rest of his bourbon, and threw the tumbler to the floor. Ignoring the shattering glass, he thought “This is why I have to get the fuck out of Boston”. 

Desperate for a distraction, Krennic picked up his phone. He scrolled through what looked like a million missed text messages and phone calls.

His realtor.

“​Orson, where the hell are you? I’ve been trying to reach you all night. I’ve got your dream house, it’s going on the market next week, and you’ve got the first showing. Be there, bring your checkbook.”

A date. An address: Coburn Cove. Manchester-by-the-Sea. 

And several photos of a ramshackle house atop a buff facing the ocean.

…to be continued

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Lawrence M. Krauss

Published: Sep 11, 2023

The voyage of discovery that science offers can take us furthest when it is open to the best and brightest, regardless of who they are and where they come from. Great scientific minds often emerge from unexpected backgrounds. Many scientific disciplines remained effectively closed to ethnic minorities and to women for far too long. But over the past 50 years at least, science has opened up and a host of affirmative action programs have been created to encourage women and minorities to consider careers in the field.

For some activists, however, these efforts have not gone far enough. In response, universities, industries, and research institutions have instituted a vast bureaucracy designed to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: a behemoth that is growing at a rate far exceeding that of investment in new faculty and facilities.

This has resulted in some disturbing new trends in academia and scientific institutions more broadly. In a desire to include women and minorities, white males are often excluded, and too often women and members of minority groups are tokenized by being promoted primarily for their gender or skin color.

This tokenism has affected the most prestigious institutions. It was a bone of a contention at this year’s Lindau Nobel Laureate meeting. Citing fellow laureate Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, who has questioned the use of gender quotas in STEM and warned against “discrimination against men,” Nobel prizewinner Kurt Wüthrich commented that he felt discriminated against “in the climate that this meeting is being held.” He was particularly dismayed by the fact that the female laureates were placed in the front row of a group photo—an example, he felt, of insulting tokenism. “I would feel horrible if presented in this way,” he said. “It was ridiculous, fully ridiculous.” As a result of voicing these views, Wüthrich was accused of violating the meeting’s code of conduct.

That may have been a minor issue of optics, but his more general point is valid. Look at almost any online photo promoting science and you will find this kind of tokenism.

Here are several examples.

The first is from a recent article in Science, the official journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

[ Source: Science. ]

Scientific societies should encourage all young people to consider a career in scientific discovery. Science nevertheless seems to feel the need to present a patronizing advertising image, featuring three women and two men of color.

In an email encouraging young people to embark on scientific careers, the American Physical Society presents an image of five women and a black man. The omissions—presumably done in the name of diversity—are obvious and embarrassing.

[ Source: Substack. ]

In advertisements for their annual general meeting, which attracts over 10,000 scientists from all over the world, the APS shows three women and one male of color.

[ Source: APS website ]

For hundreds of years, white men in lab coats were presented as the face of science. It is time to change that picture. But we should do without losing touch with reality or becoming overtly patronizing.

This trend of prioritizing women and minorities is not restricted to advertising and public relations but is affecting faculty appointments at every level.

Let’s start at the top. Six of the eight Ivy League universities—Harvard, Brown, Penn, Cornell, Dartmouth, and Columbia—now have female presidents, as do UC Berkeley and MIT.

MIT is a particularly striking case. Despite comprising many traditionally male-dominated STEM disciplines, its upper management team is largely female. The head of the MIT Corporation, the President, the Director of Research, the Provost, the Chancellor, and the Dean of Science are all women. The Institute’s core discipline, the School of Engineering, consists of eight departments, five of which are led by women. This is clearly not a coincidence, nor is it likely, given the demographics of the place, that this is simply the result of choosing the best people for those jobs. Were the situation reversed—if most of the faculty were female, but the leading administrators were all male—there would be an outcry.

It is still the case that most full professors, in most STEM disciplines, are male. But the reasons for this are often misunderstood. It generally takes decades to attain this rank, and many full professors have been in their current positions for over 30 years. Even if the hiring system were now biased in favor of women, they would not yet have achieved parity at the senior level.

And the hiring system may well be biased. Thanks to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion infrastructure that dominates almost every major US university today, affirmative action initiatives have affected the hiring of junior faculty across the board.

It is difficult to obtain national statistics on this, but in 2015, before DEI initiatives reached current heights, a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed a two to one preference for female candidates for tenure track positions in STEM.

New faculty announcements suggest a similar bias. For example, in 2021, UCLA announced the following new appointments in the physical sciences: Abigail Doyle (Chemistry and Biochemistry), Alvine Kamaha (Physics and Astronomy), Courtney Shelly (Statistics/Mathematics), Qianhui Shi (Physics and Astronomy), and Hong Wang (Mathematics). It did not appoint any new male faculty. Similar examples abound.

We can detect comparable trends further up the tenure ladder, too. For example, MIT has just announced the election of six new Fellows to the American Physical Society. This represents a significant career milestone for the successful candidates. I was happy to see that they include my well-deserving former graduate student, Hong Liu, but that aside, the trend seems clear.

[ Source: MIT News ]

Affirmative action is not the only explanation for the increasing paucity of white males in such positions. The American Physical Society offers a plethora of programs designed to assist pre-tenure female (and sometimes male minority) faculty in physics. There are conferences, leadership programs, internships, grants, workshops, networks, site visits, guidelines, scholarships, fellowships, and prizes. There are no similar programs for young white male scientists, although many of them face similar career challenges.

In US academia in general, women now receive more doctoral degrees than men.

[ Source: Cory Clark and Bo Winegard for Quillette ]

Women also occupy most faculty positions in post-secondary institutions.

[ Source: Cory Clark and Bo Winegard for Quillette ]

While it is heartening that the climate for women in academia has been improving, these figures suggest that the laser focus on recruiting, retaining, spotlighting, and promoting women in STEM may have become superfluous.

As April Bleske-Rechek and Michael Bernstein have shown, while men still occupy three quarters of STEM positions (despite the fact that the percentage of women in STEM has more than doubled since 1980), the situation is precisely reversed in the fields of health, education, administration, and literacy. While massive efforts are underway to correct the imbalance between men and women in STEM, there have been no concomitant efforts to increase the numbers of men in female-dominated professions. People do not seem to perceive the latter imbalance as a problem. In a recent survey of over 800 recent college students, Bleske-Rechek and Bernstein found that the students were overwhelmingly more concerned about male overrepresentation in certain high status professional positions than about female overrepresentation in others.

[ Responses to the question "Do you agree that the gender gap is problematic?" Source: Unsafe Science. ]

This was the case even though the female-dominated disciplines were not considered lower status than the male-dominated ones.

[ Responses to the question "Do you agree that the job is high in status?" Source: Unsafe Science. ]

Other data in the study suggest that gender gaps in male-dominated disciplines are significantly more likely to be attributed to sexism or discrimination than they are in female-dominated disciplines.

[ Responses to the question “How much of the gender gap is due to sexism/discrimination?” Source: Unsafe Science ]

These results align with recent work by Matt Grawitch et al., summarized here. Grawitch and his colleagues found that both male and female respondents were more likely to judge that an interaction between a banker and a client had been sexist when the banker was male and the client female than the reverse. We are far more likely to attribute sexism to disparities that favor men than disparities that favor women.

The impression that universities are primarily concerned with hiring, supporting, and promoting women may be contributing to the fact that, at entry levels, young men are leaving higher education in their droves.

We can see the results of this in the California State universities: the undergraduate student body at Cal State Los Angeles is 59 percent female, and 67 percent of its graduate students are female; Sonoma State is 63 percent female; San Diego State is 57 percent female; Humboldt State is 58 percent female; Cal State East Bay is 61 percent female. Nationwide, around 60 percent of students are female. And the gender gap is growing. Recent data show a significant downward trend in male college enrollments, which has coincided with the increasing prevalence of DEI programs.

[ Source: Brookings Institution ]

The reduction in male undergraduate numbers is partly caused by the fact that young women are graduating from high school in higher numbers than their male counterparts. In fact, women now graduate at higher rates than men at all educational levels.

[ Source: Brookings Institution ]

Similar trends are emerging at pre-university level. Consider this announcement of the finalists and winners of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge.

[ Source: 3M News Center ]

It is no surprise to see a high prevalence of Indian and Chinese students among this group, as East and South Asians have been outperforming white students for some time. What is perhaps more surprising is that the finalists included only one young Caucasian male.

Perhaps this is partly due to way such programs recruit applicants. Consider this advertisement for the Regeneron Science Talent Search.

[ Source: Society for Science ]

Is the nearly complete absence of white males in these images the result of a decision to highlight women and minorities—or are fewer white men getting involved in such programs than ever before?

We may be moving towards a future in which women will be significantly better educated than men and will occupy far more of the jobs that require professional qualifications and skills. The societal impacts of this are unknown.

We must continue to ensure that higher education and scientific training remain open to people from all demographics. But we should not encourage diversity at the cost of driving away talented people. Our fixation on raising the profile of women and minorities in science by minimizing the role and status of men in general, and white men in particular, is misplaced.

After more than 40 years of intense affirmative action efforts, it may be time to take our thumbs off the scale and let a natural balance emerge. Young males—and white males in particular—should not be discouraged from pursuing higher education in science, or from engaging in any other field of intellectual activity.

[ Via: https://archive.md/18k9n ]

==

DEI does not belong in science.

[hhvadvancedtech]

Thin film technology

HHV Advanced Technologies excels at executing large, highly sophisticated custom thin film deposition equipment for a wide range of applications. It has been designing, developing, and manufacturing thin-film coatings and optics for the space, defense, and industrial sectors.

[hhvltd]

Thin Film Technology

HHV is India's premier thin film and vacuum technology companies with 60 years of expertise in the design and manufacture of high vacuum systems and equipment for research and industrial applications. HHV products include laboratory and industrial-scale vacuum coating systems for optical, decorative and functional coatings.

[sagarg889]

Sirens Market Research by Key players, Type and Application, Future Growth Forecast 2022 to 2032

In 2022, the global sirens market is expected to be worth US$ 170.1 million. The siren market is expected to reach US$ 244.0 million by 2032, growing at a 3.7% CAGR.

The use of sirens is expected to increase, whether for announcements or on emergency vehicles such as ambulances, police cars, and fire trucks. A siren is a loud warning system that alerts people to potentially dangerous situations as they happen.

Rapidly increasing threats and accidents have resulted in more casualties and missed business opportunities in developing economies. Demand for sirens is expected to rise during the forecast period as more people use security solutions.

As a result of rising threats and accidents in developing economies, the number of victims and lost business opportunities has rapidly increased. Adopting security solutions, such as sirens, is an effective way to deal with these challenges. Long-range sirens are used in mining and industrial applications, whereas motorised sirens are used in home security. Hand-operated sirens are used when there is no power or when a backup is required.

Some additional features of sirens include a solar panel upgrade system to keep the batteries charged and a number of digital communication methods, including Ethernet, satellite, IP, fiber optic and others. Sirens have conformal coatings on their electronics, which help protect them against harsh environments. Some of the systems are made in such a way that they can be expanded or scaled depending on future capabilities.

Omni-directional sirens can be used in areas of high noise levels and those with large population densities as they provide a greater area of coverage. Sirens have external controls with triggers, which can be customized according to needs. The lightening types of sirens include bulb revolving, LED flashing and xenon lamp strobe. The loud speakers in sirens are adopted from latest piezoelectric ceramic technology.

Get a Sample Copy of this Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-4274

Other sirens are hydraulic or air driven and mostly find applications in plants and factories. Lithium batteries have replaced alkaline batteries in sirens now, since lithium batteries need not be replaced for several years. Modern sirens use latest technologies and find applications in civil defense, emergency vehicles, security systems and others. Typically, sirens are made of stainless steel, aluminum or UV stabilized polycarbonate to avoid corrosion and are equipped with protection cages. An LED flashing siren has a light source with a semi-permanent lifespan and it is used in places where bulb replacement is a problem.

Region-wise Outlook

In the global sirens market, the dominant share is held by the U.S., India, China, Japan, Australia, Germany, Singapore and the UAE. This can be attributed to the demand for security solutions in developed as well as developing economies.

The regional analysis includes:

North America (U.S., Canada)

Latin America (Mexico. Brazil)

Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K, Spain)

Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia)

Asia-Pacific (China, India, ASEAN, Australia & New Zealand)

Japan

The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries, S. Africa, Northern Africa)

The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies.

Market Participants

Some of the key market participants identified in the global siren market are Acoustic Technology Inc., Sentry Siren Inc., MA Safety Signal Co. Ltd, Whelen Engineering Co. Inc., Federal Signal Corporation, B & M Siren Manufacturing Co., Projects Unlimited Inc., Phoenix Contact, Mallory Sonalert Products and Qlight USA Inc.

Rising population and rapid urbanization have led to an increase in demand for security solutions. The need for implementation of security has paved way for the use of electronic equipment on a large scale globally, which in turn has created opportunities for the global sirens market. As these products are durable with a high voltage capacity and easy to install, they find high selling propositions. Characteristics and properties of electronic and pneumatic equipment play a vital role in security solutions, thereby driving the global sirens market with a rise in diverse end-user applications, such as industrial warning systems, community warning systems, campus alert systems and military mass warning systems.

Report Highlights:

Detailed overview of parent market

Changing market dynamics in the industry

In-depth Polishing / Lapping Film market segmentation

Historical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and value

Recent industry trends and developments

Competitive landscape

Strategies of key players and products offered

Potential and niche segments, geographical regions exhibiting promising growth

A neutral perspective on market performance

Must-have information for market players to sustain and enhance their market footprint.

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sirens-market

Key Segments

Product Type:

Electronic

Electro-mechanical

Rotating

Single/dual toned

Omnidirectional

By Application:

Civil defense

Industrial signaling

Emergency vehicles

Home/vehicle safety

Security/warning systems

Military use

Others

By Installation Type:

Wall mounting

Self-standing

Water proof connector

By Regions:

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

MEA

[guerrerense]

Working Toray por David Blazejewski Por Flickr: With the first snow of the season finally sticking I went out trackside close to home to shoot the Seaview Transportation working down in Quonset-Davisville. After digging out cars at Ocean State Yard over on the Davisville Branch half of the railroad they headed over to the Quonset side and assembled their train in the new Mill Creek Yard before continuing east down the line to work mainstay customer, Toray Plastics. After crossing Roger Williams Ave. they are now inside the plant that features five stub ended tracks. As described by their own web site: 'Founded in 1985, Toray Plastics (America), Inc., is a leading innovator in polypropylene, polyester, and polyolefin technology and operates three state-of-the-art facilities. Our headquarters in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, is home to two facilities. There we manufacture cast and mono- and biaxially-oriented polypropylene film, biaxially-oriented polyester film, and bio-based films, and conduct in-house metallizing and coating. Our films are used for industrial, packaging, lidding, graphic, optical, and electronic applications.' Parent company Toray Industries is headquartered in Tokyo and was founded in 1926 as a Rayon Yarn Production Company. Today, it operates in 29 countries and has over 48, 000 employees globally and is the world's largest producer of carbon fiber among a vast array of other modern industrial products. SVTX GP10 1855 was built as a GP9 in Aug. 1956 for the Baltimore and Ohio as their #6467. Later rebuilt by ICG's Paducah Shop she bounced around on different shortlines until coming to Rhode Island in 2006 where she was given this snappy paint job. To learn more about this railroad check out the longer caption with this shot: flic.kr/p/2nNXfxP North Kingstown, Rhode Island Monday December 12, 2022

[123567-9qaaq9]

Detailed information about Fiber Optics Cable Market Report | BIS Research 

A fiber optic cable is a type of cable that contains one or more optical fibers used to transmit data as pulses of light. These fibers are typically made of glass or plastic and are designed to carry signals over long distances with minimal loss of data or signal degradation. 

The Fiber Optic Cable Market was valued at $14.61 billion in 2022, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.70% and reach $43.02 billion by 2032.  

Global Fiber Optics Cable Overview 

Fiber optic cables are essential components in modern telecommunications and data transmission systems. 

These cables use light signals to transmit data, offering much higher speeds and bandwidth compared to traditional copper cables. A typical fiber optic cable consists of several optical fibers made of glass or plastic, which are designed to carry information in the form of light pulses.

Grab A Free Detailed Report on Global Fiber Optics Cable Market    

Key Components of Fiber Optic Cable Market 

Core- The central part that carries the light signals.

Cladding- A layer surrounding the core that reflects light back into the core, ensuring the signal stays within the fiber.

Buffer Coating- A protective layer around the cladding to prevent damage and moisture penetration.

Outer Jacket- The final protective layer for insulation and durability.

Key Advantages for Fiber Optics Cable Market 

High Bandwidth- They can transmit large amounts of data at high speeds, making them ideal for internet and communications services.

Long Distance Communication - Fiber optic cables can carry signals over long distances with minimal signal loss, reducing the need for amplifiers or signal boosters.

Immunity to Electromagnetic Interference- Unlike copper cables, fiber optics are not affected by electromagnetic interference, ensuring a stable and reliable connection.

Durability and Security - These cables are resistant to environmental factors like moisture and temperature, and are more secure against data breaches compared to copper cables.

The fiber optic cable market is evolving to meet the surging demand for high-speed data transmission, driven by technological advancements, expanding internet connectivity, 5G network deployment, and data center requirements. the fiber optic cable industry is experiencing robust growth driven by the need for high-speed, reliable, and scalable communication networks. The intersection of factors such as the adoption of 5G, increasing demands for internet connectivity, expansion of data centers, and ongoing technological innovations positions fiber optics as a crucial facilitator of the ongoing digital transformation across various industries. 

Demand - Drivers and Limitations

Following are the demand drivers for the fiber optic cable market:

•    Increase in Demand for Sustainable Cable Products •    Increased Internet Usage and Data Traffic •    Initiatives for Smart City Development •    Growth in Automotive Industry

Following are the limitations of the fiber optic cable market:

•    Rapid Growth of Wireless Systems •    Fragility and Low Flexibility of Fiber Optic Cables Compared to Other Cables •    Limited Power Transmission in Fiber Optic Cables

Visit our Next Generation Fuel/ Energy Storage Solutions Vertical Page Click Here! 

Market Segmentation for Fiber Optics Cable    

1 By Cable Type 

Single-Mode Fiber (SMF): Transmits data over longer distances using a single light wave, ideal for long-distance telecommunications and high-bandwidth data transmission.

Multi-Mode Fiber (MMF): Uses multiple light waves for data transmission over shorter distances, making it suitable for local area networks (LANs) and data centers.

2 By Material Type 

Glass Optical Fiber: Offers higher performance and is more commonly used in long-distance communications and high-speed data transmission.

Plastic Optical Fiber (POF): Less expensive, typically used for short-distance communication in homes, offices, and industrial settings.

3 By Application 

Telecommunications: Dominates the market due to the growing demand for high-speed internet, 5G networks, and improved telecommunication infrastructure.

Data Centers: Fiber optic cables are essential for high-speed data transmission in data centers, where large amounts of information are stored and processed.

4 By End Users 

Telecom & IT: The largest end-user segment, driven by the global expansion of internet and telecom services.

Healthcare: Increasing use of fiber optic technology in diagnostic equipment and imaging.

Defense: Rising demand for secure, fast communication solutions in military operations.

5 By Region 

North America: Significant market share due to advanced telecom infrastructure and demand for high-speed internet.

Europe: Growing demand for fiber optic networks in countries focused on digital transformation.

Key Players 

Belden Inc.

Finolex Cables Ltd

Fujikura Ltd.

Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.

Corning Incorporated

CommScope Inc.

OFS Fitel, LLC

General Cable Corporation

Recent Developments in the Fiber Optic Cable Market

• In November 2023, China, in collaboration with Tsinghua University, China Mobile, Huawei Technologies, and Cernet Corporation, launched the world's fastest internet connectivity services. This network connected Beijing, Wuhan, and Guangzhou through an extensive optical fiber cabling infrastructure, showcasing the capability to transmit data at a remarkable speed of 1.2 terabits (equivalent to 1,200 gigabits) per second.

• In April 2023, STL Tech announced the development of its thinnest optical fiber, a 180-micron optical fiber. This fiber would allow for the lowest widths in cables while maintaining the highest fiber density to enable high-speed data transmission.

• In January 2023, Prysmian S.p.A. launched an 864-fiber version of the Sirocco HD microduct cable. The newly launched cable squeezes 864 fibers into a diameter of 11.0 mm, producing a fiber density of 9.1 fibers per square millimeter. The fiber cable can be installed into a 13-mm duct.

Visit our sample page for complete understanding Click here ! 

Conclusion

Fiber Optics Cable s (NEMS) represent a groundbreaking evolution in technology, offering unprecedented advantages in miniaturization, sensitivity, and energy efficiency. By integrating mechanical and electrical functions at the nanoscale, NEMS open new possibilities across a variety of fields, including healthcare, environmental monitoring, telecommunications, and quantum computing.  

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Self-embedding silver nanoparticles: Researchers find the 'silver lining' in cotton gin waste

Cotton gin waste, also known as cotton gin trash, is a byproduct of the cotton ginning process and occurs when the cotton fibers are separated from the seed boll. For cotton gin waste, the treasure is its hidden potential to transform silver ions into silver nanoparticles and create a new hybrid material that could be used to add antimicrobial properties to consumer products, like aerogels, packaging, or composites. Silver nanoparticles are highly sought-after products in the nanotechnology industry because of their antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, electrical, and optical properties. These nanoparticles have an estimated global production of 500 tons per year and are widely applied to consumer goods such as textiles, coatings, paints, pigments, electronics, optics, and packaging.

Read more.

[tamanna31]

Advanced Ceramics Market - The Biggest Trends to watch out for 2024-2030

Advanced Ceramics Industry Overview

The global advanced ceramics market size was estimated at USD 107.00 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2024 to 2030. 

Increasing demand for advanced ceramics in various industries, coupled with growth in the medical and telecom sectors, is expected to drive market expansion. Advanced ceramics, also known as technical ceramics, possess improved magnetic, optical, thermal, and electrical conductivity. End-users can reduce their production and energy costs by utilizing advanced ceramics that provide high efficiency to end products.  Asia Pacific is a leading market for advanced ceramics in the world in terms of their consumption.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Advanced Ceramics Market

The rise in demand for advanced ceramics in the U.S. can be attributed to an increasing preference for lightweight materials across various industries. The production and consumption of these materials and components for the electrical and electronics sectors have been on the rise due to the growing need for uninterrupted connectivity. Furthermore, flourishing electric vehicle (EVs) and defense sectors have also contributed to market growth.

For instance, in 2023, under the National Defense Authorization Act of the U.S., the country authorized USD 32.6 billion for Navy shipbuilding, an increase of USD 4.70 billion. Also, in April 2023, the EPA announced new and stricter environmental rules for light- and medium-duty vehicles. The rules are expected to apply to vehicles manufactured from 2027 to 2032, covering greenhouse gases (GHG) and other pollutants, including ozone, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide.

Advanced Ceramics Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global advanced ceramics market report based on material, product, application, end-use, and region:

Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Alumina

Titanate

Zirconate

Ferrite

Aluminum Nitride

Silicon Carbide

Silicon Nitride

Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Monolithic

Ceramic Coatings

Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs)

Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Electric Equipment

Catalyst Supports

Electronic Devices

Wear Parts

Engine Parts

Filters

Bioceramic

Others

End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Electric & Electronics

Automotive

Machinery

Environmental

Medical

Others

Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

North America

US

Europe

Germany

UK

Asia Pacific

China

India

Central & South America

Brazil

Middle East and Africa

Saudi Arabia

Browse through Grand View Research's Advanced Interior Materials Industry Research Reports.

The KSA cement market size was estimated at USD 3.99 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.0% from 2024 to 2030.

The global linear slides market size was estimated at USD 2.73 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.6% from 2024 to 2030. 

Key Advanced Ceramics Company Insights

Some of the key players operating in the market include Kyocera Corp. and CoorsTek.

Kyocera Corp. is a multinational electronics and ceramics manufacturer based in Japan. Its advanced ceramics division offers a wide range of products, including cutting tools, industrial components, and electronic devices. Kyocera's advanced ceramics are known for their high quality, durability, and performance, making them a preferred choice in industries, such as automotive, aerospace, and medical

CoorsTek is a privately owned manufacturer of technical ceramics based in the U.S. It produces a diverse range of advanced ceramic products, including components for semiconductor manufacturing, medical devices, and industrial equipment

Nexceris and Admatec are some of the emerging market participants in the advanced ceramics market.

Nexceris is an advanced materials company dedicated to developing innovative ceramic technologies for energy, environmental, and industrial applications. Headquartered in the U.S., Nexceris specializes in the design and manufacture of ceramic-based products including solid oxide fuel cells, gas sensors, and catalysts. Leveraging its expertise in materials science and engineering, Nexceris aims to address critical challenges in clean energy and environmental sustainability

Key Advanced Ceramics Companies:

The following are the leading companies in the advanced ceramics market. These companies collectively hold the largest market share and dictate industry trends.

3M

AGC Ceramics Co., Ltd.

CeramTec GmbH

CoorsTek Inc.

Elan Technology

KYOCERA Corporation

Morgan Advanced Materials

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Nishimura Advanced Ceramics Co., Ltd.

Ortech Advanced Ceramics

Saint-Gobain

Recent Developments

In February 2023, MO SCI Corp., completed the acquisition of 3M's advanced materials business. This strategic move encompasses the transfer of more than 350 specialized pieces of equipment and associated intellectual property. By the fourth quarter of 2023, all acquired assets, including equipment and technology, will be fully integrated and operational at MO SCI Corp.'s headquarters in Rolla, Missouri

In June 2022, CoorsTek allocated more than USD 50 million towards the establishment of a cutting-edge advanced materials manufacturing campus spanning 230,000 square feet. This strategic investment aims to drive further innovation across multiple markets. The expansion represents a substantial commitment by CoorsTek to enhance its Benton facility, marking a pivotal milestone in the company's ongoing long-term investment strategy in Arkansas

Order a free sample PDF of the Advanced Ceramics Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

[sudarshangroup]

Unlocking the Potential of Quartz Powder in Manufacturing

Quartz powder, a finely ground form of crystalline silica, is an essential industrial material used in various sectors such as glass manufacturing, electronics, ceramics, construction, and more. It is highly valued for its physical and chemical properties, including durability, high melting point, low electrical conductivity, and resistance to wear. Industries across the globe are reliant on high-quality Quartz Powder Manufacturers to create products ranging from everyday household items to advanced technological components.

When it comes to sourcing premium-grade quartz powder, Sudarshan Group has established itself as a leading manufacturer and supplier in the market. With decades of experience and a commitment to innovation, Sudarshan Group has become a name synonymous with quality and reliability in the mineral industry. In this article, we will explore the importance of quartz powder, its applications, and why Sudarshan Group stands out among quartz powder manufacturers.

What is Quartz Powder?

Quartz powder is derived from natural quartz, a mineral composed primarily of silicon dioxide (SiO2). It is abundant in the Earth’s crust and occurs in a variety of forms, including large crystals, sand, and finely ground powder. Quartz has exceptional hardness, chemical stability, and optical properties, making it ideal for use in multiple industrial applications.

The process of creating quartz powder typically involves mining quartz deposits, crushing the raw material, and then grinding it to the desired particle size. High-purity quartz powder, which has fewer impurities such as iron and other trace minerals, is often used in specialized applications, especially in electronics and high-tech industries.

Applications of Quartz Powder

Glass Manufacturing: One of the most well-known applications of quartz powder is in the glass industry. Quartz is a key ingredient in the production of glass, contributing to the material’s strength, transparency, and resistance to high temperatures. The silica content in quartz powder acts as a flux, lowering the melting point of the raw materials used in glassmaking. This allows for the production of various types of glass, including soda-lime glass, borosilicate glass, and specialty glass used in laboratory equipment and optics.

Ceramics: In the ceramics industry, quartz powder is used as a filler material to enhance the mechanical strength of the final product. It helps improve the thermal shock resistance and overall durability of ceramic items, making them suitable for use in high-temperature environments. The fine particle size of quartz powder also ensures a smooth surface finish for ceramics, contributing to their aesthetic appeal.

Construction: Quartz powder is widely used in the construction industry, particularly in the production of concrete and mortar. The addition of quartz powder improves the strength, durability, and weather resistance of these materials, making them ideal for building structures that need to withstand harsh environmental conditions. In addition, quartz is used in engineered stone products, such as countertops and flooring, which combine beauty with practicality.

Electronics: High-purity quartz powder plays a critical role in the electronics industry. It is used in the production of semiconductors, integrated circuits, and solar cells due to its excellent electrical insulation properties. Quartz also has piezoelectric properties, meaning it can generate an electrical charge when subjected to mechanical stress. This makes it an essential component in devices like oscillators, sensors, and watches.

Paints and Coatings: In the paints and coatings industry, quartz powder is used as a filler material to improve the durability, gloss, and resistance of paints. It helps create coatings that are resistant to chemicals, heat, and wear, making them suitable for use in harsh environments. Quartz powder also enhances the adhesion of paint to surfaces, ensuring a long-lasting finish.

Foundry and Refractory Applications: Quartz powder is used in foundries to create molds for casting metals. Its high melting point and resistance to thermal expansion make it ideal for producing molds that can withstand extreme temperatures. In refractory applications, quartz powder is used to create heat-resistant materials that are essential for lining furnaces, kilns, and other high-temperature processing equipment.

Leading the Way in Quartz Powder Manufacturing

As one of the foremost quartz powder manufacturers, Sudarshan Group has a proven track record of providing high-quality quartz products to clients across various industries. Established with a mission to supply premium-grade minerals, Sudarshan has become a trusted name in the field of industrial minerals, especially quartz powder.

Commitment to Quality

Sudarshan Group prides itself on delivering quartz powder that meets the highest standards of purity and consistency. The company uses state-of-the-art technology in its mining and processing operations to ensure that the final product is free from impurities and has the desired particle size distribution. This commitment to quality is what sets it  apart from other manufacturers.

The company also adheres to strict quality control measures throughout the production process, ensuring that every batch of quartz powder meets the specifications required by its clients. Whether it’s for glass manufacturing, electronics, or construction, Sudarshan quartz powder is designed to meet the demanding requirements of various industries.

Conclusion

Quartz powder is a versatile and essential material in a wide range of industries, from glass manufacturing to electronics and construction. As demand for high-quality quartz products continues to grow, manufacturers like Sudarshan Group play a crucial role in meeting this need. With a commitment to quality, sustainability, and customer satisfaction, it  has earned its reputation as a leading quartz powder manufacturer. Whether you’re in the market for quartz powder for industrial or technological applications, it is a trusted partner that can deliver the products and support you need.