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Abstract Accurate community velocity models (CVMs) are critical for understanding and modeling potential earthquake shaking hazards. Those models require an understanding of the depth, geometry, and sediment density within sedimentary basins. We conducted gravity research in Lemmon Valley, Nevada, an area experiencing rapid urban and industrial growth, to help map the Lemmon Valley Basin and to better constrain the local CVM. Raw gravity readings taken at 179 locations along three transects totaling 50 line-km were reduced to a complete Bouguer anomaly for each point. Combining with preexisting gravity data allowed interpolation of these readings across the entire basin and production of 2D and 3D models of the depth to dense bedrock. This model revealed a relatively steep-sided basin in Lemmon Valley bounded by normal faults on both sides. The basin is 5 km long and 2 km wide and extends between 400 and 800 m deep. This newly resolved basin has been added to the CVM for the Reno, Nevada, area. This higher-resolution CVM will allow urban planners, engineers, and architects to use more appropriate earthquake mitigation strategies when designing bridges, buildings, and other structures in this part of western Nevada. 

This work presents an integrated approach to industrial decarbonization by converting mixed polyolefin waste into structured carbon with exceptional Joule heating properties, enabling efficient electrified hydrogen productionviaNH₃decomposition. 

Abstract We present a proof of concept demonstration of solar thermochemical energy storage on a multiple year time scale. The storage is fungible and can take the form of process heat or hydrogen. We designed and fabricated a 4-kW solar rotary drum reactor to carry out the solar-driven charging step of solar thermochemical storage via metal oxide reduction–oxidation cycles. During the summer of 2019, the solar reactor was operated in the Valparaiso University solar furnace to effect the reduction of submillimeter cobalt oxide particles in air at approximately 1000∘C. A particle collection system cooled the reduced particles rapidly enough to maintain conversions of 84–94% for feed rates of 2.9−60.8gmin−1. The solar-to-chemical storage efficiency, defined as the enthalpy of the reduction reaction at 1000∘C divided by the solar energy input, reached 20%. Samples of the reduced cobalt oxide particles were stored in vials in air at room temperature for more than 3 years. The stored solar energy was released by reoxidizing samples in air in a benchtop reactor and by electrochemically reoxidizing samples to produce H2. Measurements of the oxygen uptake by the reduced metal oxide confirm its promise as a medium to store and dispatch solar energy over long durations. Linear sweep voltammetry and bulk electrolysis demonstrate the promise of H2 production at 0.55 V relative to the normal hydrogen electrode, 0.68 V below the 1.23 V potential required for conventional electrolysis. 

Abstract We examined three observations of green emission events (labeled as event A, B and C, respectively) associated with red sprites as captured by amateurs. In all cases, the green emissions were recorded atop of red sprite. Based on the location of causative strokes and background star fields for events A and B, their altitudes are confined between 88 and 100 km, with the maximum brightness at 90.7 and 95.5 km, respectively. Events B and C were lit up for a second time after the recurrence of a sprite element, extending their duration to approximately 1,084 ms and 732.6 ms, much longer than that (about 500 ms) for event A; the intensity of green emissions was also enhanced due to sprite recurrence. It is inferred that the recurrence of sprite elements could affect the ambient condition by further increasing electron density and strengthening the electric field for the ghost production. 

Abstract We study monotone cellular automata (also known as ‐bootstrap percolation) in with random initial configurations. Confirming a conjecture of Balister, Bollobás, Przykucki and Smith, who proved the corresponding result in two dimensions, we show that the critical probability is non‐zero for all subcritical models. 

Abstract While various plastic waste management practices are demonstrated to result in materials with similar properties, morphological features of plastic waste are often lost after recycling/upcycling. Particularly, synthetic textiles are a severely underutilized waste stream that contains built‐in value stemming from their woven architectures. This work demonstrates a simple upcycling strategy to convert polypropylene‐based (PP) woven fabrics to carbon fiber mats through direct pyrolysis for direct use in various end applications without need of additional processing steps, distinct from prior works converting plastic waste to carbon‐based additives. The retention of material properties and architectures, taking advantage of the inherent value with initial product manufacturing, is investigated, with optimal conditions resulting in consistent high carbon yields. Moreover, the textile‐derived carbon shows exceptional Joule heating performance, which can be employed in various heating applications, resulting in reduced energy consumption compared to conventional heating. Furthermore, decoration of fabric‐derived carbon with metal nanoparticles is demonstrated through electroplating, leading to altered surface functionality and further enhanced Joule heating performance. This work introduces a scalable method for upcycling of plastic waste to functional carbons that can completely retain initial material architectures with controlled shrinkage, providing a viable strategy for generating value‐added products toward electrification of heating processes.