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Scientists applied a simple approach for growing hBN films on the surface of ubiquitous steels and other metal alloys to “armor” them and thus increase their capabilities. Credit: Adam Malin/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hexagonal boron nitride coatings on metal alloys enhance durability, reduce friction, and protect against harsh conditions, paving the way for improvements in solar panels, semiconductors, and aerospace components. Researchers demonstrated that stainless steel and other metal alloys coated with hexagonal boron nitride, or hBN, exhibit non-stick or low-friction qualities along with improved long-term protection against harsh corrosion and high-temperature oxidation in air. Metal alloys —...

Link post: access the thread in the General/Chat section to post commentary (and in this case, pictures of columnar jointing in you feel so inclined): Geology Picture of the Week, December 12-18, 2004: Giant's Causeway (Interactive)

How this happened: I was thinking of posting a picture of Mount Rushmore before the carvings (free-associated Mount Rushmore because I heard them talking about Rushmore Mall on the Weather Channel) but there aren't any quality pictures of Mount Rushmore before the carvings. Sooo... I started thinking about rock formations, thought about Devil's Tower, remembered the Giant's Causeway, and here we are:

Tomb's hexagonal shape supports theories Yomiuri Shimbun The mausoleum in Marukoyama in Asukamura, Nara Prefecture, is hexagonal, giving support to theories that have suggested the tomb belonged to a high-ranking prince, according to the municipal board of education. The mausoleum is the first hexagonal tomb to be found in the Asuka area, where there are many tombs of Imperial and aristocratic family members that date back to the late sixth and early seventh centuries, when Empress Suiko (554-628) ruled the region. Mausoleums were built in various shapes, but only a few hexagonal chambers have been discovered in the nation. Emperors,...