We use glass to tell our personal truths, but we can also use it to create false narratives. I wouldn't have been able to vaccinate without glass bottles, but we wouldn't have seen the rapid spread of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories without glass screens in our pockets. Without glass tubes, German glassblower Heinrich Geisler would not have been able to observe cathode rays, Ernest Rutherford would not have been able to discover the energy contained in atomic nuclei, and we would not have nuclear reactors or atomic bombs. We would not have known that when the atomic bomb exploded, it had the power to turn sand into glass, forming star-shaped shards that littered the blast site and remained undiscovered until decades later. Maybe our beliefs won't be so uncertain, so unstable.
However, the advantages of Low-E glass extend beyond energy efficiency. When combined with safety features, it becomes an invaluable asset in construction. Safety glass is engineered to withstand impact better than standard glass, making it an essential material in environments where security and durability are paramount. Low-E safety glass is produced using processes such as tempering or laminating, which increases its resistance to breakage and shattering. In case of an impact, the lamination helps hold the glass shards together, reducing the risk of injury—a crucial consideration in public and high-traffic areas.