What on Earth Is Dekton?

Charles C Mann investigates Dekton, an expensive artificial material required for his new induction cooktop, only to discover it is essentially modern porcelain—a high-tech ceramic invented by Spanish company Cosentino in 2013 that is remarkably resistant to heat, pressure, scratches, and stains. The article explores how porcelain represents both an ancient technology dating back over 3,000 years and a cutting-edge material at the forefront of modern materials science, exemplifying how innovations in physical materials continue to quietly transform the built environment.