Rosie Romero Special to the Arizona Daily Star Q: I would like to update the wooden rails, banisters and baseboard in my home. The wood is stained, and I would like to paint over it with a nice accent color. Is this a DIY project? A: This project can be a DIY project if you…
The home renovation materials industry is experiencing a transformative shift in 2024, with a strong emphasis on products that blend durability, aesthetic appeal, and sustainability. At the heart of this evolution is the advancement in vinyl flooring technology, which has become increasingly popular among homeowners and designers alike. Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) and Luxury Vinyl…
Without a coating, UV light can interact with wood surfaces, causing discoloration and damage. Credit: Naturhaus Naturfarben GmbH To keep wood from aging prematurely, it’s important to protect it effectively against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. At the same time, people want to retain the look and feel of natural wooden surfaces, but the transparent protective coatings…
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain When you see an advertisement for a detergent promising to brighten your clothes, something called a fluorescent whitening compound, or optical brightener, is probably involved. Such material absorbs UV light and emits visible blue light via fluorescence. The result? Brighter whites, vibrant colors. Yes, your clothes are glowing. As it turns…
Schematic drawing of the thermoelectric effect in nickel-gold alloys. Credit: Fabian Garmroudi Thermoelectrics enable the direct conversion of heat into electrical energy—and vice versa. This makes them interesting for a range of technological applications. In the search for thermoelectric materials with the best possible properties, a research team at the Vienna University of Technology (TU…
