Key Messages
Discover The Amazing World Of Everyday Materials And Molecules
Take a look into the wondrous world of materials.
Did you know that early celluloid billiard balls were essentially made of chemicals which were so unstable, they’d sometimes explode when hit? Or that engineering went into making chocolate melt in your mouth as much as it does in constructing some of our most complex buildings?
Through Stuff Matters, you get to delve deeper and discover the hidden story behind many objects and materials, from paperclips to pencils.
This book provides a peek into the magically complex realm of molecules, cultures and the everyday things that make up our world.
By diving into Stuff Matters, readers will not only gain knowledge about why paper clips bend and stainless steel toilets don’t exist – but will also be able to learn more about themselves by comparing and contrasting their uniqueness with that of a pencil!
The Deeper You Look, The More Complex Materials Become
Have you ever wondered what everyday objects are made of? The answer depends on which scale you choose to look at them.
If you take a step back and look closely, these seemingly monolithic items may have an intricate arrangement of smaller parts that interlock perfectly.
For example, a sweater is composed of tiny threads put together in a certain way.
If you examine the smaller parts more closely, you’ll find that they too are put together from even smaller components — similar to the way Russian nesting dolls fit inside one another.
It’s only through powerful microscopes that we can see the individual fibers that make up those threads, which consist of hundreds of thousands of molecules and finally atoms!
This level detail is essential for understanding materials.
For instance, both diamonds and graphite found in pencils essentially consist of carbon — but their differences come from how the carbon atoms are arranged: flatsheet-like in graphite while cubic-like in diamonds.
So it’s clear that there’s much more to materials than meets the eye!
The Structure Of Materials Reveals Why Some Are Soft And Others Hard
As incredible as it may seem, even the tiniest substructures of solid materials can still move.
Whether discussing metals or gemstones, a powerful microscope reveals that billions of tiny crystals make up the material.
The way these smaller structures are packed into the material determines its behavior when pressure is applied to it.
For example, in a paper clip, the metal crystals are arranged loosely enough that they can easily shift and maneuver, allowing the paper clip to be bent.
On the contrary, steel is made up of more tightly packed crystals, so if you apply enough pressure to it you’ll likely find yourself with a broken paperclip instead of a bent one.
In other words, soft materials become soft because the structures within them have plenty of room to move around–much like people who have enough space to dance around in their apartments at midnight!
Simply put, even seemingly solid materials contain immeasurable smaller parts that will still move if given the chance.
The Connectedness Of Living Matter Is What Makes It Different From Non-Living Matter
Living and non-living matter are made of the same stuff, but the way they react to stimuli is vastly different.
Non-living materials can bend, snap or resonate when exposed to external stimuli like fire, for example – but their reactions are passive.
On the other hand, living material is much more reactive.
The layers of molecules that make up these materials can actually communicate with each other and respond to external stimuli in active ways.
For instance, cells in your skin may sense extreme heat and trigger a reflex response such as sending a nerve signal which causes the skin to withdraw from the source.
This is because living matter is interconnected in a complex manner that allows it to actively interact with its environment.
So while both living and non-living things may be composed of the same basic elements (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen etc.), it’s how these components are connected that sets them apart – making living material much more reactive than its non-living counterparts.
The Power Of Materials: How Our Choices Reflect On Our Values And Social Standing
When we choose our materials, it’s not always a decision based solely on practicality.
Oftentimes, the material choice has an emotional component to it as well.
We can see this idea in action when we look at where different materials are typically used in our environment.
For example, if someone’s boss has a rosewood desk, they would likely be more impressed with that material than if they saw it being used less prestigiously.
The same goes for places like the kitchen or bathroom: while stainless steel could be perfectly practical – durable, hygienic and easy to clean – it doesn’t have the same ‘warmth’ of other materials (like ceramics) when it comes to places like the dining table or toilet bowl.
This is because there is an irrational element to our thinking; the cold hard nature of steel does not help us feel settled in these intimate moments.
Ultimately, people tend to choose materials that reflect their values.
Someone who prioritizes luxury may go for silk and marble whereas someone who focuses on practicality might gravitate towards polyester and granite, respectively.
It’s clear from this that in many cases there is an emotional nature to the decision making process when choosing materials for things like furniture and clothing – one which should never be underestimated!
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The final summary of Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik is that by looking at the components that make up everyday objects, we can gain a better understanding of their properties and how to use them in incredible ways.
Through scientific investigation, we can observe and gain a greater appreciation for the elements in our environment.
By taking the time to understand these particles on a smaller scale, we are paving the way for future advancements like never before.
In sum, this book reminds us that studying each component of an object will lead to amazing discoveries and advances in our world.
