Hi Hexbear! I am sick to death of what the modern internet has become. A few days ago, I came across a post that just said “Join Lemmy”. OK, what the fuck is a Lemmy?

Hmmm… Private, independently run servers in a federated community network? Go on… What’s this? A leftist instance centered around community building through discussion, shitposting memes, and sharing content? Go onnnnnn… Inclusive of all leftists, especially historically marginalized groups? Sign me up! Now I can finally ditch fucking reddit.

So hello! My interests include metalwork of all kinds (journeyman blacksmith, certified section IX welder and pipe fitter, and mediocre machinist), cats, computers and networking, digital privacy, 3D and 2D design including traditional media, cats, gaming, fitness, firearms, and did I mention cats?

Without doxxing myself, I can say that I am currently employed in the engineering field.

I would like to learn more about organizing strong local community networks as it’s something I am notably bad at, having little to no experience.

Just wanted to say hello. Now I’ll go back to lurking before I catastrophically own myself.

  • culpritus [any]@hexbear.netEnglish
    7·
    1 day ago

    Hi! sicko-hexbear-woke

    Since you are into metal stuff, did you hear about how China has been doing extensive research on metal crystal formation in microgravity aboard their space station? It is very cool.

    In the absence of gravity, processes like crystal growth and solidification occur differently. The microgravity experiments led to the observation of several unique phenomena. During the rapid solidification of the niobium-silicon alloy, a distinctive shrinkage pore structure formed in the microgravity environment — unlike what is typically observed on Earth. The crystal growth patterns observed in space were different from those observed in ground-based experiments. This extensive research and understanding led to the development of niobium-silicon alloy.

    https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-develops-niobium-alloy-hypersonic-flight

    Anyway, welcome to og-hex-bear

    • i_drink_bleach [any, comrade/them]@hexbear.netOPEnglish
      4·
      1 day ago

      Hi! Thank you! Glad to be here!

      Yes I have! There’s been ongoing research on microgravity alloys for a long time now aboard the ISS. Super cool stuff. Because there is no appreciable gravity, sedimentation mixing is no longer possible, and materials only mix via diffusion, which alloys alloying of previously immiscible materials. I’ve read about some really cool materials that have come out of that research with strange properties. Really looking forward to see where it goes. I’ve also read that there is a much finer ability to control crystal growth structures and sizing, which could lead in interesting directions for metamaterial research.