Nature is amazing

Despite humankind’s selfish, destructive behaviour

Courtesy of Hermes

The enormity of the challenge to save Planet Earth can feel very overwhelming. The troubling question I keep coming back too, is where to start? Effecting change requires a fundamental shift in human behaviour which is an enormous challenge for a species which is inherently selfish. I’m not going to decry COP26, which appears to be the only concerted international attempt to encourage dialogue and concession between nations about our collective future. But you only have to look at the appalling decision of the UK government, in cutting our international aid budget by 0.2% of national income, to realise that the road ahead is likely to be destructively long and far from certain.

Design is inherently optimistic, that is its power

A quote from William McDonough, an American Architect and author which I spotted on Mykkö’s Instagram feed (more later). Time to take solace in the groundbreaking work of some scientists, designers and artists.

Hard wood

Scientists at the University of Maryland have discovered a way to make wood 12 times stronger and 3 times denser than its native form. It means that the treated wood is as strong as steel but 6 times…