Self-growth
Business & Career
Success
Communication
Healing
Relationships
Psychology
HappinessYou’ll learn
- The secret of the unbreakable samurai sword
- About paper’s fate in a digitalized world
- How plastic promoted social equality
- What chocolate makers don’t tell us
Table of contents
first KEY POINT
Material gods
Have you ever wondered what your phone and house are made of? Looking around, you’ll notice dozens of materials that constitute your reality. What would your life look like if one day they disappeared?Modern society is so focused on financial freedom and spiritual progress that we forget that, ultimately, this world is material. It's made of stuff without which we would have nothing to live in, create with, or eat from. Without metal, paper, and glass, we would have no entertainment, education, or work. Without textiles, we would still wear fur or freeze because a leaf is not a winter coat.For centuries, such materials prolonged our survival and improved our lives. Eras of human progress took the name of discovered materials like the Bronze or Iron Age. Our ancestors treated them like gods with awe and gratitude. Now, instead of clay huts, we have skyscrapers; instead of blank spaces, we have ceramic teeth; instead of playing with sticks, we can scroll a phone screen.
Recycle old metal items to reduce waste and save resources.
Follow through to discover the power and fascinating world of the materials surrounding us and how much our lives depend on it.
second KEY POINT
Steel on trial
People have used metal for years but only understood its nature in the 20th century. Metals are made of obscure crystals, which makes them non-transparent. Their natural defects or atomic disruptions allow the metal to change shape. For example, billions of such dislocations within a paper clip enable it to bend. Without such imperfections, the metal would snap. A razor contains billions of crystals arranged in a particular order, and when used, it becomes blunt because hairs destroy these crystals.There’s more. Metalwork started when our ancestors discovered a greenish rock called malachite that turns into copper if heated. This discovery gave birth to the development and growth of civilizations, like the Ancient Egyptians, who used copper chisels to hand-carve stone blocks for the pyramids.At the same time, they discovered gold. Since it is soft and easily scratched, most accessories are an alloy or a combination of gold, silver, or copper — yep, the gold in your ring is never pure. Due to its scarcity, gold remains one of the most expensive metals on earth.Eventually, steel, an alloy of iron and carbon, revolutionized the production of tools because it was cheap and robust. However, the proper proportions of elements puzzled most steel makers, so they had to learn and work through trial and error.Civilizations that made high-quality steel thrived. Japan, where making a samurai's sword became a spiritual ritual, was the most potent steel-making country. Their sword had two parts:• The central part was made of low-carbon steel — tough and unlikely to break.
• The edge was covered with high-carbon steel — brittle but very sharp.The Japanese remained the best steel-makers until the Industrial Revolution and the production of ships, bridges, and railways. Then, Henry Bessemer introduced his method, which led to the mass production of steel. Now, it penetrates all spheres of life, from machine building to household necessities. In 1903, King Camp Gillette used the material to sell disposable razors, transforming shaving and creating his business empire.
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first KEY POINT
A clean sheet for paper
second KEY POINT
No plastic, no equality
third KEY POINT
Discovering new worlds through glass
fourth KEY POINT
What is a lover's drink?
fifth KEY POINT
Conclusion
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Frequently asked questions
What is Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World about?
Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World, written by Mark Miodownik, delves into the fascinating science of materials that form our everyday environment. The book highlights how materials like steel, glass, and foam influence human experiences and innovations, revealing their hidden wonders.
Is Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World worth reading?
Yes, Stuff Matters is definitely worth reading if you're curious about the materials that make up our world. Mark Miodownik combines scientific insight with engaging storytelling, making complex concepts accessible and intriguing for the reader.
What are the key takeaways from Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World?
Key takeaways from Stuff Matters include an appreciation for the materials that surround us, understanding their properties, and recognizing their impact on daily life. Miodownik emphasizes the relationships between technology, material science, and the physical world.
How many pages is Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World and when was it published?
Stuff Matters spans approximately 304 pages and was published in 2013. This engaging read provides insights into the science behind the materials that shape our man-made environment.
Who is the author of Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World?
The author of Stuff Matters is Mark Miodownik, a renowned materials scientist and professor. His expertise in the field lends authenticity and depth to the exploration of materials in our man-made world.