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"...a market economy is essentially a genetic algorithm for solving resource allocation problems..."
- Charles Stross

Thermalite  
  A transparent material that allows almost no heat to escape.  

"Big domes here have less radiating area for cubic content," replied Norden. "Thermalite domes' material is practically opaque to heat transmission, practically a non-conductor of heat, although transparent to light.
Technovelgy from Planet of Eternal Night, by John W. Campbell.
Published by Thrilling Wonder Stories in 1939
Additional resources -

Compare to glassite from Brigands of the Moon (1930) by Ray Cummings, artificial transparent element from Last and First Men (1930) by Olaf Stapledon, neo-crystal from Master of the Asteroid (1932) by Clark Ashton Smith, transparent car roof from Sinister Barrier (1939) by Eric Frank Russell, plani glass from Crystalized Thought (1937) by Nat Schachner and slow glass from Light of Other Days (1968) by Bob Shaw.

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Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from Planet of Eternal Night
  More Ideas and Technology by John W. Campbell
  Tech news articles related to Planet of Eternal Night
  Tech news articles related to works by John W. Campbell

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