🦃Low-Carbon Concrete

Daily Upsider - Thursday, November 28th, 2024

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James Linder & Julia Mejia
November 28, 2024

Thursday, November 28th, 2024

Good Morning! 🌞 

Happy Thanksgiving! Today is a day to pause and give thanks for all the moments, people, and experiences that have brought us joy and comfort. Whether you're surrounded by loved ones or enjoying some peaceful solitude, let's take a moment to appreciate the blessings of the year! 🦃 

Today’s Upside

Innovation

Low-Carbon Concrete

– credit, Carbon Upcycling, Minnesota DOT and National Road Research Alliance, released.

A groundbreaking partnership between Carbon Upcycling Technologies and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has successfully tested a low-carbon concrete mix on a Minnesota highway. This innovation offers a practical solution to reduce cement usage and emissions while maintaining the strength and durability needed for infrastructure. The collaboration highlights how sustainability and performance can go hand in hand, addressing a critical challenge in the construction industry.

Cement production is a major contributor to industrial carbon emissions, releasing 0.6 tons of CO2 per ton produced, according to Imperial College London. Carbon Upcycling’s innovative technology mitigates this impact by embedding CO2 directly into the mix, reducing reliance on carbon-intensive Portland cement. A recent three-year study, sponsored by the National Road Research Alliance (NRRA) and conducted by Sutter Engineering, tested 16 concrete mixtures under real-world conditions. The results were impressive: a 12.5% reduction in cement content without compromising workability, and up to 32% stronger performance compared to advanced control concrete at 56 days.

These findings could play a pivotal role in driving low-carbon infrastructure across North America, especially as global demand for cement is projected to double by 2050. “This collaboration shows how captured emissions can be turned into high-performing materials that enhance infrastructure,” said Apoorv Sinha, CEO of Carbon Upcycling. Larry Sutter, MnDOT’s Principal Engineer, emphasized the mix’s superior performance and its importance for meeting the construction industry’s 2030 CO2 reduction goals. With seamless integration into existing workflows, this low-carbon concrete mix points to a sustainable future for construction, aligning economic and environmental priorities.

Culture

16th Century Coins Found

Sławomir Milewski and his son Szymon – credit, Polish “Husaria” Treasure Hunters Association, supplied.

In a forest north of Warsaw, a father-and-son duo unearthed a stunning historical treasure while searching for remnants of a Roman road. Sławomir Milewski and his son Szymon, armed with metal detectors, discovered 17 pre-modern coins estimated to be worth $120,000. The find includes 9 thalers and 8 patagons, with origins spanning from 1587 to 1641. Though their original goal, the Roman road, remained elusive, the coins provided an extraordinary glimpse into 17th-century European trade and monetary practices.

The coins, examined by members of the Triglav Historical and Research Association and the Polish “Husaria” Treasure Hunters Association, revealed their diverse origins. Thalers, silver coins from various European mints, played a pivotal role in early modern commerce and are the etymological root of the word “dollar.” Among the thalers were coins minted by Rudolf II, Frederick I, and Leopold V, as well as one issued by Polish King Sigismund III. The patagons, meanwhile, originated from the Spanish Netherlands, reflecting Poland’s commercial ties to Western Europe during the Thirty Years' War.

– credit, Polish “Husaria” Treasure Hunters Association, supplied.

Historians suggest the hoard may have been buried by a merchant seeking to safeguard his wealth, perhaps near a 16th-century inn. Such practices were common during periods of conflict, like the Thirty Years’ War, when instability forced people to hide their valuables. The coin from Zweibrücken is particularly significant due to its rare minting patterns, adding historical value to the find. As Sonja Anderson of Smithsonian Magazine notes, this discovery highlights how buried treasures can illuminate forgotten aspects of Europe’s turbulent past.

World News

Swinging Bridge

One swinging section of the Renfrew Bridge over the Clyde River – credit Dave Souza, CC 4.0. BY SA.

A groundbreaking moveable bridge over the Clyde River is set to transform connectivity in Renfrewshire and the Glasgow City Region. Featuring a unique horizontal swing mechanism, the New Clyde River Bridge functions like a drawbridge but opens horizontally instead of lifting vertically. Known as a "double-leaf swing bridge," its two 213-foot decks rotate horizontally—akin to pinball paddles—to allow vessels to pass. This engineering marvel, a central feature of a $140 million revitalization project, includes a motorway, bike lanes, and pedestrian paths, creating the first new vehicle crossing since 2006 and replacing the area's outdated car ferry.

Designed with cutting-edge innovation, the bridge incorporates massive cylindrical bearings on each bank and back spans with 500 metric tons of counterweights supported by stressed cables and a central pylon. Lead designer Jim Phillips from Hardesty & Hanover LLC described it as “the most complex moveable bridge I’ve ever designed.” The project required creative solutions to balance vessel clearance requirements from port authorities while adhering to height restrictions imposed by Glasgow Airport. By intentionally unbalancing the structure, the design team ensured the bridge met both functional and spatial constraints.

The New Clyde River Bridge, jointly funded by the UK and Scottish governments as part of the £1.13 billion Glasgow City Region initiative, is expected to bring significant economic and social benefits. “This will bring significant economic benefits to Renfrewshire and the Glasgow City Region, creating new opportunities for businesses, workers, and communities,” said Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson. By enhancing direct road access to Glasgow Airport and fostering improved connectivity between the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside, the bridge represents a key milestone in the area’s ongoing development.

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Thanksgiving Traditions Around the World

Thanksgiving is often seen as an American holiday, but many cultures worldwide have their own unique ways of celebrating gratitude and harvest. Here’s a look at some global traditions:

1. Canada – Canadian Thanksgiving (Second Monday in October)
Celebrated in October, Canadian Thanksgiving is similar to the U.S. version but occurs earlier, with feasts of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, honoring the harvest.

2. Germany – Erntedankfest (October)
Germany’s harvest festival includes church services, parades, and feasts of bread, fruits, and vegetables. It’s a time for communities to come together and celebrate the year’s crops.

3. Japan – Kinrō Kansha no Hi (November 23)
Japan’s Labor Thanksgiving Day honors workers and promotes human rights, with volunteer activities and community service. Families enjoy meals together but without a focus on a traditional feast.

4. Liberia – Thanksgiving Day (First Thursday of November)
In Liberia, Thanksgiving celebrates both the nation’s founding and the harvest, with a meal featuring rice, goat, and local dishes. The day is marked by church services and community gatherings.

5. India – Pongal (Mid-January)
The Hindu festival of Pongal is a four-day celebration in Tamil Nadu that gives thanks for the harvest, featuring traditional foods like rice, milk, and jaggery, and honoring the sun god.

6. South Korea – Chuseok (Mid-September)
Chuseok is Korea’s harvest festival, where families gather to honor ancestors, share meals like songpyeon rice cakes, and celebrate the harvest with folk music and dance.

7. Ghana – Homowo Festival (August)
The Homowo Festival in Ghana celebrates the harvest and overcoming famine, with feasts, traditional dances, and gratitude for a bountiful year.

8. Ethiopia – Enkutatash (September 11)
Ethiopia’s New Year celebration, Enkutatash, marks the end of the rainy season with feasts, music, and prayers of thanks for the harvest.

9. United Kingdom – Harvest Festival (September-October)
In the UK, Harvest Festival is a religious observance where people donate food to the needy and give thanks for the crops, often celebrated in schools and churches.

While Thanksgiving is commonly associated with the U.S., many countries have their own traditions to express gratitude for the harvest and life’s blessings. Whether through feasts, prayers, or community service, the act of giving thanks brings people together globally.

Mind Stretchers

⁉️

What is the key to a good thanksgiving dinner?

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:

What can you stick between a 3 and a 4 so that the result is more than three but less than four?

  • A decimal point! (3.4) — Debbie Ettinger got this one first! 🌞 


Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to[email protected]or reply to email.


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