Calcium Silicate Spheres (IMAGE) Rice University Caption Calcium silicate spheres synthesized at Rice University and packed into a pellet hold together under compression. The spheres are building blocks that can be made at low cost and promise to mitigate the energy-intensive techniques now used to make cement, the most common binder in concrete. Credit Multiscale Materials Laboratory/Rice University Usage Restrictions For news reporting purposes only. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.