PLANET BORON

We have only one planet. Resources are finite, and it is our joint responsibility to take action to make the world a better place for future generations. Planet Boron is an initiative by Borates Today to harness the strengths and benefits of one of the world’s most precious resources – BORON – and publish news and events about boron’s availability, applications, benefits for achieving the collective vision and shared goals as we embrace multiple goals related to four key areas: Decarbonization; Advanced Energy, Food Security and Micronutrients.

DECARBONIZATION

ADVANCED ENERGY

FOOD SECURITY

MICRONUTRIENTS

Crop Management, FOOD SECURITY

Boron Essential for Plants

Boron Essential for Plants: Boron is a vital nutrient for plants. It plays a crucial role in regulating the development of root and shoot meristem and thus helps complete the life cycles of plants from seed germination to fully-grown plant.

Environmental Protection, MINING

Sustainable Mining: The Future of the Industry

Sustainable mining is the sustainable extraction, processing, and use of mineral resources. It impacts the environmental and its economic feasibility.

ADVANCED ENERGY, PODCASTS

Podcast – Boron Solar Power and Energy Efficiency

A solar cell or photovoltaic (PV) cell is made of semiconductor materials that convert sunlight into electricity. But how does it work and what role does boron play in solar cells?

FOOD SECURITY

Food Insecurity: The Crisis For America

The food insecurity problem in America has been plaguing the country for years. Boron will help combat this issue and promote better nutrition.

ADVANCED ENERGY, APPLICATIONS, Automotive, INDUSTRY SECTORS

Ford Boron Steel Bodywork

Automotive makers, including Ford, are taking advantage of boron's high tensile strength to build stronger, safer, and lighter cars. Boron steel is a crucial ingredient in the Ford Fiesta's pillars and structural elements and its other car brands. Boron steel is steel alloyed with small amounts of boron. It is four times higher than the average high-strength steel.

Agriculture, Crop Management, FOOD SECURITY

Boron in Agriculture

The use of boron is a crucial component to farming success. Because without adequate levels, crops cannot grow or can harvest successfully. Soil with inadequate amounts of elemental boron does not provide enough nutrients that plants need to survive. Thus, it leads them into an unhealthy state which causes their growth rates to decrease immensely. This happens not just when first planted but also during maturity and harvest periods.

DECARBONIZATION, Industrial emissions

Boron as an energy carrier to increase efficiency

Boron and its compounds have a vital role to play as energy carriers to increase efficiency. The chemical industry has long been a significant contributor to climate change. Many chemicals are manufactured using fossil fuels, which produce greenhouse gases when...

ADVANCED ENERGY, Clean Fuels, Efficient Power Sources

Fluids, Fuel, Lubricants and Additives

Fluids, Fuel, Lubricants and Additives - Boron has been proven to be an excellent lubricant for engine components. University of Utah researchers found that parts coated with boron had 50% less friction than others. This may result in significant fuel savings and increased engine durability. Boron should become an essential ingredient in fuels and engine technology once its potential benefits are further clarified.

Agriculture

Creeping Charlie with Borax: The Best Weedkiller

Creeping Charlie weed is difficult to eliminate, but borax can kill the plant's roots, preventing it from spreading, and taking over lawns or gardens.

Critical minerals - Sodium borate crystal | boron

ADVANCED ENERGY

USA Critical Minerals Boron

Critical minerals are vital to the future of technology and national security. Governments worldwide are beginning to realize this and have increased budgets to show how serious they are about acquiring access. However, specific challenges arise in securing...

Famine and Poverty Relief, Human Health

How Can Boron Help In Arthritis Pain Relief?

Did you know boron can be an effective arthritis pain relief? It is a powerful chemical element with many uses around the home. Also, its unique mineral properties make it ideal for soothing aches and joints!

ADVANCED ENERGY, MINING, PODCASTS

Podcast – The Solar Power Market is Red Hot

The solar power market is growing with the demand for renewable energy sources.

Clean Fuels, Efficient Power Sources, Electricity Generation, RESEARCH

How Boron is Beneficial for Heat Conversion

How is Boron Beneficial for Heat Conversion? This is a topic of interest for many scientists, engineers, and chemists due to its unique properties. It is an element that plays a vital role in heat and other energy conversion processes. Additionally, it is important...

Agriculture, Crop Management

Boron Fertilizer and Corn Plant Yield

The corn plant is a popular houseplant for its attractive and shiny leaves. Corn is a major food source for humans and animals and is used to manufacture many products, including biofuels. But did you know that a corn plant needs boron to grow and develop properly?

Energy Management, RESEARCH

Hydrogen Boron Fusion – Creating New Energy

Hydrogen-Boron 11 fusion -Boron Hydrogen Fusion - has always been the ultimate fusion reaction. It does not create radioactive waste and its fuels are both abundant in nature and non-radioactive. Few other researchers had studied this reaction as it was considered scientifically too difficult. The temperatures required to ignite the reaction are more than 100 times higher than that of the sun – a technical hurdle that has held back practical energy generation for decades.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Innovation, RESEARCH

Boron Monosulfide Nanosheets

Boron monosulfide nanosheets may provide efficient energy sources in applications including batteries, catalysts, and electronic devices. Boron monosulfide nanosheets unique structures, giving them exciting superconducting, thermoelectric properties.

Agriculture, Crop Management

Coconut Palm and Boron: The Nutrient Connection

Coconut palm (Cocos Nucifera) is a tropical tree cultivated for many uses. It produces large, fibrous fruit, an important food, and oil source for millions worldwide. In addition to being a dietary staple, coconuts make various products, including cosmetics, soaps, and detergents.

Energy Management, RESEARCH

Boron Nitride Powers Thermal Conductivity

Boron nitride, also known as "white graphite," is a semiconductor material that conducts electricity. It is chemically inert and electrically insulating with no bandgap in the bulk phase that would allow it to emit light when excited by an energy source. Because of its excellent thermal conductivity properties, layers of boron nitride are often added onto other materials like silicon carbide (SiC) for use in high-efficiency power devices like thermoelectric cooler packages (TECs).

ADVANCED ENERGY

Nuclear Energy and Boron

We live in a world where the environment is constantly going through changes. This is because we are running out of fossil fuels, and all it takes for our society to collapse is one more natural disaster. Therefore, the invention of new materials that facilitate the mission statement of a low carbon future is essential in today's day and age to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels.

DECARBONIZATION

Decarbonization and Boron

Rio Tinto Mine. The Serbian government has finally revoked Rio Tinto's licenses for lithium exploration in Serbia in the latter part of January 2022. The government gave in to the protesters who have been opposed to the Anglo-Australian mining company's project on environmental grounds. Last year, the company committed to the project as global miners push for metals necessary to transition to green energy. This includes lithium which is used in the production of electric vehicle batteries. The project was already suspended in December 2021 due to environmental deterioration and forced displacement concerns.

Agriculture, Crop Management, Food Availability

Alfalfa Plant Needs A Powerful Dose Of Boron

Alfalfa plant need boron to thrive and reach their full potential. It's a trace element, but even in small amounts, it can make all the difference for this plant.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Batteries and Capacitors, PODCASTS

Podcast – Lithium Battery Prices Set to Soar

Lithium battery prices have been steadily increasing since 2022 taking both manufacturers and consumers by surprise. This shift marks a significant rise and is a trend set to continue over the next few years.

Agriculture, Crop Management

Boron Deficiency In Woody Plants

Boron deficiency is widespread around the globe and constrains the growth and development of agriculture and forestry due to the lack of Boron in soil. Trees have a large body size, longer lifespan, and more Boron reserves than herbaceous plants, implying that woody species are more likely to suffer from long-term or mild Boron deficiency.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Energy Management

Solar Cell – The Science Behind Solar Energy

A solar cell or photovoltaic (PV) cell is made of semiconductor materials that convert sunlight into electricity. But how does it work and what role does boron play in solar cells?

ADVANCED ENERGY

Boron Advanced Materials

Boron advanced materials have unique characteristics which make them extremely useful in multiple applications. Boron's many forms include Boron Nitride, a superior heat conductor and insulator, hexagonal boron nitride tubes, a structure with superior tensile strength, stability, and thermal conductivity, and cubic boron nitride, whose hardness characteristics is used for coating cutting tools and as grit for polishing and grinding wheels.

FOOD SECURITY

Food Security: Concepts and Policy Approaches

Food security is a complex issue that has many dimensions. There is scope for exploring the different facets of food security and discuss how it affects people across the world. Food insecurity can lead to health problems, poverty, and even death. Food and...

Agriculture, Anti Bacteria, Anti-fungal, Biocides, Crop Management, Farming, FOOD SECURITY, Pest Control

Agriculture: The Importance of Boron

The Role of Boron in Agriculture Boron is a chemical element that aids in the growth of crops and agricultural operations. It helps to provide healthy soil and increase crop yields. It also reduces leaching from soils, prevents diseases in plants, as well as many...

Chemistry, Crop Management, SCIENCE

How Toxic is Boron?

How toxic is Boron? Despite its low toxicity, boron can still be dangerous to humans if consumed in large amounts. It is well-known that excess boron can also affect plant growth and reproduction. In fact, toxicity of boron is considered one of the major causes of reduced crop production. In plants, high concentrations of boron can retard vegetative growth and decrease seed set.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Efficient Power Sources

Boron in Solar Panels

Boron in solar panels is becoming more important in energy provision for advanced and developing countries. Over the past several decades, solar cell efficiency has steadily increased. This is due in part to the increase in the number of light-absorbing layers in a cell and partly due to boron in solar power working with silicon to optimize the energy generated by sunlight.

Clean Fuels, Efficient Power Sources, Energy Management, RESEARCH

Boron and its Energy-saving Applications

An element important for a variety of green building practices. This mineral and its various alloys play a role in insulation, wind turbines, and more. It helps to contribute to the goal of having a greener future. In this blog post, we will discuss boron. And...

ADVANCED ENERGY, Efficient Power Sources, Energy Management

The Future of Solar: Boron and Energy Efficiency

Energy transition is a hot topic these days, and one way that scientists have been working on reducing our dependence on fossil fuels has been through solar panels. Boron plays an integral role in the efficiency of solar panels- without it, photovoltaic cells would not be able to convert light into electricity as efficiently.

FOOD SECURITY

Boron and Food Security Utilization

Food Utilization, or food metabolization, is one of three drivers of Food Security (the other two being Availability and Accessibility). Food Utilization is all about the ability of animals and humans to use and benefit from nutrients in their food either through absorption or intake via the proper natural consumption of food.

Agriculture, FOOD SECURITY

Boron for Tomato Plants: The Ultimate Guide

Tomato plants (Lycopersicum esculentum) require boron for proper growth and development. Boron is a micronutrient that helps with cell wall formation, calcium uptake, and meristematic activity.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Efficient Power Sources, SCIENCE

Boron and Hydropower

Boron inclusive technology shows how we can harness the power from seawater to bring zero-carbon energy worldwide. Decarbonization has been a goal for quite some time, and it seems like this year, governments will finally agree on stricter regulations that would make it possible to achieve this objective by 2050 or sooner. Boron has been working to bring sustainable energy sources for all, and Boron and Hydropower technology is an excellent example of achieving this goal.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Energy Management

Geothermal Energy Could Solve Lithium Shortage

The potential for geothermal energy to provide a sustainable and reliable energy source is well known. But what is less appreciated is geothermal energy's role in solving one of the 21st century's most pressing challenges.

Agriculture, FOOD SECURITY, Food Stability, PODCASTS

Podcast – Boron Fertilisers

Today, we're going to look at the role of fertilizers in agriculture and in food security. The worldwide fertilizer market, which includes boron fertilizers is estimated to grow with a CAGR of 1.6, 9% up to 2027.

Chemistry, Efficient Power Sources, SCIENCE

Electrification: The Key to a Connected World

Electrification is the process of using electricity to power something. It is essential for power systems for devices and technologies that we rely on every day. As our world becomes more interconnected, electrification will become increasingly important and Boron has a role to play.

ADVANCED ENERGY, MINING

European Critical Mineral Strategy for Boron

The European Commission has a solid policy on a raw materials initiative for access to critical minerals such as Boron. Going back to 2008 the initiative was based on three pillars: a fair supply from global markets; sustainable collection; and recycling resources.

DECARBONIZATION

DECARBONIZATION: Oil and Gas Sector Focus

It is no secret that the world needs decarbonization. For our planet to remain habitable, we need to lower the number of greenhouse gases in the air. Decarbonizing a material refers to lowering the amount or the intensity of carbon in it or by lowering the amount...

Efficient Power Sources, Nuclear Energy, RESEARCH

High Purity Boron Controls Nuclear Power

Amazing Benefits of Boron - Radiation Protection As the world moves towards a greener power future, Nuclear Power Generation is considered one of the leading green energy sources. However, there are risks with Radiation from Nuclear Power. Boron can reduce the...

Boron the Super Saviour of Wooden Products

By Borates Today | Anti Bacteria, Anti-fungal, APPLICATIONS, BENEFITS, Biocides, Forests and Parks, Pest Control, Wood Protection

Boron the Super Saviour of Wooden Products

Overview The ultimate defense against wood-destroying fungi and bacteria. Woods are great. They keep us warm and cozy and give a rustic yet chic feeling to our homes or any other place they adorn. It makes us one with nature. But like in nature, woods inside our...

Solar Cell – The Science Behind Solar Energy

By Borates Today | ADVANCED ENERGY, Energy Management

Solar Cell – The Science Behind Solar Energy

A solar cell or photovoltaic (PV) cell is made of semiconductor materials that convert sunlight into electricity. But how does it work and what role does boron play in solar cells?

Carbon-free Energy Technologies

By Borates Today | DECARBONIZATION

Carbon-free Energy Technologies

Carbon Emission and The Greenhouse Effect Fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas, and oil, have fueled the modernization of global economies. While being the fundamental energy drivers for all developed and developing nations over the last century, they have...

Podcast – Boron Supplements and Testosterone

By Borates Today | FOOD SECURITY, MICRONUTRIENTS, PODCASTS

Podcast – Boron Supplements and Testosterone

In today's podcast, we're going to look at whether Boron supplements increase testosterone or not. Boron supplements are a great way to enhance human body metabolism. From boosting testosterone levels to blocking excess estrogen and SHBG. They help you achieve optimal health and fitness with ease.

Boron Nitride Powers Thermal Conductivity

By Borates Today | Energy Management, RESEARCH

Boron Nitride Powers Thermal Conductivity

Podcast – Boron Neodymium Magnets

By Borates Today | ADVANCED ENERGY, PODCASTS

Podcast – Boron Neodymium Magnets

Neodymium magnets are rare earth magnets composed of neodymium, iron boron, and several transition metals. The neodymium elements are classified as rare earth magnets because they lie in the lanthanides section on the periodic table.

Boron in Traction Motors

By Borates Today | ADVANCED ENERGY, Batteries and Capacitors, Energy Management Systems

Boron in Traction Motors

Boron in traction motors – Smarter, better, cheaper, faster — those words are the mantra of today’s global economy. As organizations seek to streamline operations and do more with less, they increasingly focus on advanced logistics vehicles and mobile robots to help get the job done. From smart warehousing in retail to materials handling in manufacturing to telepresence robots in healthcare, robotic vehicles constitute a fast-growing technology sector.

Podcast – Boron and Nuclear Fusion

By Borates Today | ADVANCED ENERGY, Efficient Power Sources, Nuclear Energy, PODCASTS

Podcast – Boron and Nuclear Fusion

In today's podcast, we're going to look at boron and nuclear fusion. Is boron the key to unlocking energy via nuclear fusion? For the past 80 years, scientists have been exploring ways to capture energy, to provide an inexhaustible supply of quasi- free green energy.

Boron Renewable Energy

By Borates Today | DECARBONIZATION

Boron Renewable Energy

Boron is an essential element of renewable energy. The use of other materials in the production process is reduced. Carbon emissions are decreased by using borates for insulation or fire-retardant purposes. Boron has many properties which make it a good candidate for this purpose. It plays a prominent role as we work to reduce our dependency on traditional methods like fossil fuels.

Boron – The Building Block of Urbanization

By Borates Today | Agriculture, Crop Management, DECARBONIZATION, Environmental Protection, Farming, Food Access, Food Availability, Food Stability, Food Utilization, Forests and Parks, Human Health, RESEARCH

Boron – The Building Block of Urbanization

Boron is a metal useful to modern societies for over 100 years. It is most commonly available as borax in household cleaning products. Or, as the boric acid in eye drops and mouthwashes. However, it has many other uses in urbanization. It is present in construction...