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Transparent Concrete

Posted by michael on from the mandated-by-anti-terrorism-act-of-2004 dept.

rakerman writes: "The Economist reports in How to see through walls that development is underway on translucent concrete, with hopes of eventually developing transparent concrete. Can transparent aluminium be far behind?"

7 of 361 comments (clear)

  1. But what about the birds? by Eharley · · Score: 5, Funny

    Won't translucent structures lead to an increase rate of smack death amongst bird populations?

    1. Re:But what about the birds? by IainHere · · Score: 5, Funny

      I used to walk over a bridge with large glass windows, where there was a silhouette of a bird of prey. On the back was a caption that read "this cut-out is here to scare off small birds, which used to fly into the bridge and *subsequently* kill themselves". I often wondered why, having survived hitting the bridge, they would want to commit suicide. So perhaps they'll do the same on transparent concrete?

  2. Glass Houses by Perdo · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you lived in a transparent concrete house would you still have to refrain from stone throwing?

    --

    If voting were effective, it would be illegal by now.

  3. Re:Transparent aluminum by cowbutt · · Score: 5, Funny
    I doubt even if it could be produced, people would find it of much use.

    I dunno. I find it invaluable for transporting live whales in my time-travelling starship, complete with enough water to for them to move around in.

    I could use steel or something, but, darn, I like to press my nose up to their enclosure during the journey.

    --

  4. Edible Concrete by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    Edible concrete has been with us for years:

    coarse aggregate - dried fruit
    fine aggregate - flour
    binding agent - eggs.

    It proved so popular, it's got its own name - cake!

    Let's face it, Marie Antoinette would've looked a bit of a dork saying "let them eat edible concrete."

  5. Re:How to see through walls by Pathetic+Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

    Please use the term "transparent exterior access devices".

  6. Re:Light Pollution by foobar104 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Buildings glowing from within? This is terrible for astronomers... the added light pollution would further ruin the viewing conditions for many great observatories.

    Maybe that wouldn't be so bad. I say, the sooner we got astronomers off the surface and up to the far side of the moon, where they belong, the better.