TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CERAMICS AND GLASS - Preferred Refractory: The refractory exhibits a room temperature cold crushing strength of at least 8000 psi as determined by test method ASTM C133. The refractory has a thermal diffusivity of 0.02-0.005 cm2/sec as determined by ASTM E 1461; or a thermal conductivity of 0.1-0.02 W/cm degrees K; or a specific heat capacity of 0.8-1.4 Cp/(J/g degrees K) as determined by test method ASTM E 1269; or a density of 3-3.5 g/cm3 as determined by test method ASTM C 134; or an abrasion resistance of 3-18 cubic centimeters as determined using test method ASTM C704; or a room temperature modulus of rupture of 5000-9000 psi as determined using test method ASTM C133; or an apparent porosity of 5-40 wt.% by weight as determined using test method ASTM C20; or a modulus of rupture measured at 1500 degrees F (816 degrees C) of 3000-10000 psi as determine using test method ASTM C583; or a specific gravity of 3.2-5 as determined using test method ASTM C20; or the refractory exhibits a difference in modulus of rupture between an uncycled specimen and specimens subjected to thermal cycling of 400-8000 psi as determined using test method ASTM C1171. Preferred Components: The chopped ceramic fibers comprise strands of ceramic fiber chopped to a median length of 0.1-5 cm, and having a median diameter of 1-50 microns. The nanofibrils extend the surface area of the chopped ceramic fibers by at least 100 times the surface area of the chopped ceramic fiber without the nanofibrils.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The as-batched composition comprises alumina particulates comprising dehydrated boehmite and calcined boehmite. The as-batched composition further comprises alumina aggregate where up to 35 wt.% of the aluminum aggregate has a mesh size of -28 and +65, 15-85 wt.% of the aluminum aggregate has a mesh size of -65 and +325, and 15-85 wt.% of the aluminum aggregate has a mesh size of -325. Preferred Components: The rare earth oxide comprises an oxide of Pr, La, Ce, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and/or Lu. The rare earth oxide is Pr6O11, and the transition metal oxide is Y2O3. EXAMPLE - A reinforced ceramic refractory was made using as-batched composition comprising (parts by weight (pbw)) Almatis Alphabond 300 (RTM: binder containing aluminum oxide) (23.7); Almatis A1000SG (RTM: calcined boehmite) (55.3); Pr6O11 (6.67); Y2O3 (0.33); and Nextel XN740 (RTM: chopped ceramic fibers containing Al2O3) (14). The refractory modulus of rupture measured at 2500 degrees F (1371 degrees C) of 6950 psi, as determined by the test method ASTM C133.