acb on Nostr: Scientists in communist-era East Germany developed unbreakable glassware by infusing ...

Scientists in communist-era East Germany developed unbreakable glassware by infusing glass with potassium ions that inhibited cracks. After the wall fell, the factory was shut down and sold for scrap, as market capitalism had no place for consumables that don’t actually get consumed (see also: the Phoebus cartel and light bulbs). Though now somebody is allegedly crowdfunding an attempt to develop an updated version of this glass (that will also be recyclable):

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/article/2024/aug/06/superfest-unbreakable-drinking-glasses-east-germany