Abstract: A refractory material foam can include a plurality of members made from a refractory material, where each member of the plurality of members is fused to one or more other members of the plurality of members at a fusion point, where each member of the plurality of members is arranged in a determined spatial location.

Abstract: A system can include: a heat storage medium (e.g., soil, dirt, gley, sand, earth, bedrock, gravel, clay, silt, loam, rock, talus, scree, volcanic material, glacial debris, humus, and/or other earthen material), a heat transfer mechanism (e.g., resistive heater, inductive heater, forced air heater, forced fluid heater, etc.), and a heat output mechanism (e.g., thermoelectric device, fluid coupling, etc.). A method can include heating a heat storage medium with a heat transfer mechanism and extracting heat from the heat storage medium using a heat transfer mechanism.

Abstract: A composite can include: a lattice comprising lattice material arranged at predetermined locations; and deposited material deposited on and around the lattice wherein the deposited material forms a unified material. A method for making a fabricated material can include: receiving a lattice, depositing material on the lattice, and optionally processing the fabricated material.

Abstract: A method for forming a skeleton (e.g., space frame, trussed structure, regular foam, open-cell foam, closed cell foam, etc.) can include providing instructions for spatial locations of optical hot spots, generating the optical hot spots, and growing material at the optical hot spots to form the skeleton. The method can optionally include shaping the grown material and/or infilling the skeleton.

Abstract: A refractory material foam can include a plurality of members made from a refractory material, where each member of the plurality of members is fused to one or more other members of the plurality of members at a fusion point, where each member of the plurality of members is arranged in a determined spatial location.

Abstract: A method for forming a skeleton (e.g., space frame, trussed structure, regular foam, open-cell foam, closed cell foam, etc.) can include providing instructions for spatial locations of optical hot spots, generating the optical hot spots, and growing material at the optical hot spots to form the skeleton. The method can optionally include shaping the grown material and/or infilling the skeleton.

Abstract: A system can include: a heat storage medium (e.g., soil, dirt, gley, sand, earth, bedrock, gravel, clay, silt, loam, rock, talus, scree, volcanic material, glacial debris, humus, and/or other earthen material), a heat transfer mechanism (e.g., resistive heater, inductive heater, forced air heater, forced fluid heater, etc.), and a heat output mechanism (e.g., thermoelectric device, fluid coupling, etc.). A method can include heating a heat storage medium with a heat transfer mechanism and extracting heat from the heat storage medium using a heat transfer mechanism.

Abstract: A composite can include: a skeleton comprising skeleton material arranged at predetermined locations; and deposited material deposited on and around the skeleton wherein the deposited material forms a unified material. A method for making a fabricated material can include: receiving a skeleton, depositing material on the skeleton, and optionally processing the fabricated material.