Global Heritage Stone: Estremoz Marbles, Portugal

Colmenar Limestone, Madrid, Spain: considerations for its nomination as a Global Heritage Stone Resource due to its long term durability

Colmenar Limestone is one of the traditional materials most commonly used in monuments in Madrid, Spain. The petrophysical properties of this stone determine its high resistance to decay. Its low water absorption and pore size distribution favour good hydraulic behaviour, which is likewise furthered by its high ultrasound velocity and low anisotropy. The durability findings pursuant to the 280 ...

Natural Dyes, Our Global Heritage of Colors

Remotely Controllable Liquid Marbles

With the ongoing need for miniaturized systems in many biological and chemical applications, there is an increasing demand for the development of versatile methods for controllable transport and manipulation of small volumes of liquids. [ 1–9 ] Recently, liquid marbles — liquid droplets encapsulated by self-organized hydrophobic particles at the liquid/air interface — have been revealed as a ne...

Calcite Needles in Syros Marbles

INTRODUCTION The rocks on the Greek island of Syros are part of a suite of high pressure metamorphic rocks which outcrop all across the Cyclades. There is a complex metamorphic history recorded in the rocks here, including a Cretaceous or Eocene high-pressure blueschist event and a Miocene, extension-related greenschist overprint. The Island of Syros is mostly composed of schists , which altern...

How aphids lose their marbles.

Insects provide examples of many cunning stratagems to cope with the challenges of living in a world dominated by surface forces. Despite being the current masters of the land environment, they are at constant risk of being entrapped in liquids, which they prevent by having waxy and hairy surfaces. The problem is particularly acute in an enclosed space, such as a plant gall. Using secreted wax ...