"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Recrystallization (Materials Science)
04/27/26
“How can we reset a metal’s crystalline structure by working it while hot?”
A metal’s crystalline structure contains more defects when it undergoes cold working. However, if we work on a metal while it’s heated, the metal will soften, and new strain-free grains will arise and envelop the entire structure. This Recrystallization process ends with the metal becoming more ductile but less strong and harder.
Venturi Scrubbers
04/26/26
“What system uses water to clean fine particulate matter from exhaust fumes?”
People often have trouble removing fine particulate matter in gas fumes. This is where Venturi Scrubbers come in. Venturi scrubbers are wet scrubbers take an exhaust gas flow, force it down a narrow tube to speed it up, inject water into it so the liquid droplets capture the fine particulate matter, slow it down in an expansion pipe, and then separate the droplets with the fine particulate matter from the gas stream.
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The Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate
04/25/26
“How much cooler does the atmosphere become as we rise with height if there is no heat exchange?”
Generally, air in the troposphere becomes cooler as we go higher because the decreasing pressure leads to volumetric expansion that takes away internal heat. If no heat is exchanged with the surroundings, then condensation will not occur, and no change of moisture will occur. This rate, at which air changes temperature, around -9.8 degrees Celsius per kilometer of height, is called The Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate.
Langmuir Isotherms
04/24/26
“How can we model how adsorption potential changes as adsorption potential fills up?”
Substances will stick to the surface of another through adsorption. The more sites that are filled up, the less adsorption potential there will be until it’s completely maxed out. This is how Langmuir Isotherms work.
Sorption Isotherms
04/23/26
“How can we graphically represent the relationship between a substance’s concentration and an adsorbent’s ability to adsorb the substance?”
Adsorbents of different materials interact with different chemical differently. Sometimes their adsorption strength decreases with increasing concentration, sometimes it grows, and sometimes it stays the same. We can plot the relationship between substance concentration and adsorption strength on a Sorption Isotherms.
ALARA/ALARP Principles
04/22/26
“How can we take a practical, secure approach to environmental safety in organizational operations?”
Environmental safety in organizational operations can vary drastically, ranging from simple catch-basin cleanup to nuclear remediation. While we can’t completely remove risk, we can heavily reduce to as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA, reduce it as much as you can achieve, such as going beyond basic care in heavy radiation settings) or as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP, reduce risk to as low as whatever fits guidelines/standards and is cost-benefit optimal). These ALARA/ALARP Principles are fundamental to creating a safe place for everyone.
Landfill Clay Liners
04/21/26
“How can we prevent landfill leachates from seeping into the ground?”
Landfill leachates can be hazardous to people and the environment. Consequentially, we want to prevent them from making contact with the Earth’s surface. We can accomplish this through a highly impermeable barrier, such as Landfill Clay Liners. Landfill clay liners may be partially composed of geotextiles. Landfill operators will need to look out for dessication in clay liners.
Desiccation in Landfills
04/20/26
“How does extreme dryness affect landfills?”
Desiccation is when objects become incredibly dry and shrink and crack. Dessication in landfill clay liners will lead to increased permeability through cracking and result in more leachate escaping. Desiccation in Landfills typically happens from hot, dry weather and waiting too long before waste is placed in the clay liner.
The Jar Test
04/19/26
“How can we figure out the optimal conditions for coagulation and flocculation?”
Knowing the optimal conditions for coagulation and flocculation is critical for designing wastewater treatment processes. Specifically, we want to find out the best coagulant type, dosage, pH, and proper mixing intensity/time. So how can we use our scientific mindset to accomplish this? Well, what if we take 4 – 6 jars, fill them with raw water from the same source, and then add different coagulant doses to each one. Afterwards, rapidly mix for a short time, then gently mix for a short time, and then let it settle out. Whichever has the best settling results will be the conditions you set. This Jar Test is a widely used methodology to choose operating conditions for coagulation-flocculation.
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