In this episode of The Business of Materials, host Isha Ghiya speaks with Professor Emeritus John Abelson of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a leading researcher in thin-film science. From building Yale’s earliest solar cells decades ago to pioneering new approaches in chemical vapor deposition (CVD), Professor Abelson explores how controlling materials at the atomic scale enables today’s microelectronics.

In this episode of The Business of Materials, host Isha Ghiya speaks with Professor Ian Baker, a renowned materials scientist at Dartmouth College whose work spans high-entropy alloys, additive manufacturing, and the physics of ice and snow. Professor Baker also shares his motivation for writing materials science books for the general public, including Fifty Materials That Make the World and an upcoming book on how materials shape modern sports.

In this episode of The Business of Materials, host Isha Ghiya speaks with Dan Cathie, CEO of Silveray, whose groundbreaking technology is reshaping the non-destructive testing (NDT) industry. Their digital X-ray film offers the clarity of high resolution imaging with the convenience of flexible film. Explore how Silveray’s patented NPX semiconductor ink could make inspections safer, faster, and more accessible across many industries.

In this episode of The Business of Materials, host Isha Ghiya speaks with Professor Ashutosh Goel, a leading glass scientist from Rutgers University. From immobilizing nuclear waste to regenerating human enamel to enabling the next generation of all-glass iPhones, Professor Goel reveals how glass, one of humanity’s oldest materials, is being reinvented for the modern age. Discover how this versatile material is driving innovation in sustainability, healthcare, and consumer electronics.

In this episode of The Business of Materials, host Isha Ghiya explores how lithium-ion batteries came to disrupt the entire battery industry, and now powers everything from smartphones to electric cars. Discover how this high-density, rechargeable powerhouse catalyzed innovation in sectors including consumer electronics and transportation.

In this episode of The Business of Materials, host Isha Ghiya speaks with Allan Bradshaw, COO of InventWood. The venture-backed company is reimagining one of the world’s oldest materials, wood, and turning it into something extraordinary. Their invention, Superwood, is stronger than steel, lighter than aluminum, renewable, and even fire-resistant.

In this episode of The Business of Materials, host Isha Ghiya speaks with Mason Mincey, COO and Co-founder of Soarce, a venture-backed company pioneering composites built from nanocellulose, which is an ultra-strong, sustainable material derived from plants and seaweed. From lighter airplanes to 3D-printed homes and smarter agriculture, discover how Soarce is turning breakthrough science into industry-shaping innovation.

In this episode of The Business of Materials, host Isha Ghiya explores how Kevlar, a fiber five times stronger than steel, was discovered, revolutionized the tire industry, and reshaped the personal protection industry.

In this episode of The Business of Materials, we dive into the accidental invention of GORE‑TEX and how it solved the age‑old problem of staying dry without overheating.

Host Isha Ghiya unpacks the science of expanded PTFE, and the clever licensing strategy that turned a lab breakthrough into a global outdoor‑gear standard.

From space suits to ski jackets, discover how GORE‑TEX became a performance promise and a billion‑dollar legacy.