Up until now, the most common materials, both lightweight and strong, for spaceships and satellites have included aluminum alloys, titanium, carbon composites, and steel. More generally speaking, alloys and composites. Alloys are a mixture of metals and metal with non-metal; composites are a combination of materials with very different compositions. And for aerospace, they haveContinue reading “Materials Composition: The Hidden Dimension Of Aerospace”
Category Archives: nature
Measures Of Intelligence: Efficiency, Density & Magnitude
Logarithmic mathematical scales represent orders of Magnitude or proportional relationships. A measure like IQ however is linear and only applies to humans, though. And while some of life is linear— Intelligence is a complex and multifaceted emergence, and not unique to humans. IQ has been more of a shorthand for convenience anyway, not capturing theContinue reading “Measures Of Intelligence: Efficiency, Density & Magnitude”
Nature, Math, Computer Science, Harmony: 3 Patterns Of Morphogenesis
Nature indeed has favorite patterns of propagation, from sound waves to cell division — and the reproductive foundation is “self-similarity,” copying and varying the self, which encapsulates logarithms, fractals, spirals/chirals and the exemplary patterns described below. Understanding and being able to analyze the patterns that repeat across different orders of magnitude and scale will helpContinue reading “Nature, Math, Computer Science, Harmony: 3 Patterns Of Morphogenesis”
Technology + Philosophy: Self-Creation & Recursion
Human technology is a branch in the giant bifurcation (tree) of creation, bifurcation being a pattern of morphogenesis and let’s be fair, emerging from plant and animal evolutionary technology. Escher’s famous drawing illustrates how creation emanates from the hands, and the “strange loop” as Douglas Hofstadter put it in GEB, between creator and creation. “DrawingContinue reading “Technology + Philosophy: Self-Creation & Recursion”
Earth Science + Technology: A Battery By Any Other Name…
For grand energy systems in action, we need look no further than the science and technology of our home planet for impressive examples: Sea and Sky. It’s especially interesting to consider their ‘electronic’ properties in light of modern innovation. Though the modern technological concept of hydro or hydroelectric power has earliest known evidence in BCContinue reading “Earth Science + Technology: A Battery By Any Other Name…”
Superfood Selections For The Brain, Heart & Gut
First of all, it’s important to remember the Brain, Heart & Gut are part of interconnected systems, and so is the entire body. The connections of the brain and its ganglia run throughout. The Heart also has its own brain, the ganglia being made of neurons. Let’s have a look at some superfood adaptogens thatContinue reading “Superfood Selections For The Brain, Heart & Gut”
Art + Science: “Electrocardiogram” & “Infinite Metamorphosis”
“Electrocardiogram” is 4’x3’ painting based on the skull as a symbol of life. The structure of bone is built on a hexagonal crystalline apatite structure. And the hexagonal or carbon ring you can see at the center of “Infinite Metamorphosis.” The hexagon is a fundamental shape of life’s chemistry. The fall leaves are the transitionContinue reading “Art + Science: “Electrocardiogram” & “Infinite Metamorphosis””
Project for MIT Solve Climate Adaptation: Rapid Photodegradation Of Plastics In A Portable Device
A concept worth sharing: Enhancing the process that would occur naturally in a landfill by concentrating different types of UV light in an EM radiation resistant receptacle — or, a next level trash can. Imagine what that would achieve for waste reduction, with materials like ‘forever’ plastics never even entering the typical waste management system.Continue reading “Project for MIT Solve Climate Adaptation: Rapid Photodegradation Of Plastics In A Portable Device”
Studio Shangri-La ‘Hi Tech Botanical’ Feature: Arrowroot / Canna Lily
Continuing the hi tech botanical series, as plants are routinely so, just in a different way and so sophisticated there is much yet to learn. They’ve been evolving far longer in their realm! Canna Lily / Arrowroot has a number of edible and medicinal uses, the most common of which is the root being usedContinue reading “Studio Shangri-La ‘Hi Tech Botanical’ Feature: Arrowroot / Canna Lily”
Environment, Industry & Public Health: Four Categorical Solutions For Positive Planetary Transformation
Environment, industry and public health are inextricably linked. Environment is of course our home planet Earth, the space in which we live and operate. And its health and condition affect our own wellbeing. The manner in which industry is conducted and the materials used directly affect environment. Thus, our behavior and choices directly affect environment.Continue reading “Environment, Industry & Public Health: Four Categorical Solutions For Positive Planetary Transformation”
Studio Shangri-La Art Of The Day: Flower Fusion Reactor Core
The latest in a brightly colored series is “Flower Fusion Reactor Core” inspired by the power & energy of nature, as well as the new frontiers in technology, often best informed and influenced by earth sciences. Really, it all seems like earth or cosmic sciences split into subcategories! Anyway, this exuberant piece is made ofContinue reading “Studio Shangri-La Art Of The Day: Flower Fusion Reactor Core”
Studio Shangri-La Fine Art Feature: Urban Wildflower Variations
Happy to present this fresh mini-series for June. The main featured flower here is the Purple Crown or Securigaria, a wild flower that prevents erosion. Here it’s mixed in with other grasses, as they do naturally, and photographed in an urban environment in which they can grow in their wild beauty. The most obvious clearContinue reading “Studio Shangri-La Fine Art Feature: Urban Wildflower Variations”
Studio Shangri-La Fine Art Feature: Hi Tech Botanical As ‘Religious Art’
Studio Shangri-La • Deep Tropic • windows and panels. Earth is the church — These are made to look like stained glass windows and panels, making use of beautiful symmetry & asymmetry, and making ‘religious art’ of nature, because we come from nature. One thing I find interesting about the process – When working withContinue reading “Studio Shangri-La Fine Art Feature: Hi Tech Botanical As ‘Religious Art’”
Quantum Biology + Computer Science: Photosynthesis, Quantum Coherence & Constructive Noise
“Nature isn’t classical, dammit, and if you want to make a simulation of nature, you’d better make it quantum mechanical, and by golly it’s a wonderful problem, because it doesn’t look so easy.” — Richard Feynman Photosynthesis is an amazingly efficient and fast circular process of energy conversion that’s evolved in bacteria and plants overContinue reading “Quantum Biology + Computer Science: Photosynthesis, Quantum Coherence & Constructive Noise”
New In April/May: The Corsham Black & Whites + The Locks
I had a wonderful recording trip to Real World Studios in Box, Corsham recently and there was also excellent opportunity for photography. The European Beech lives on the grounds of Real World, and the second one is from nearby public Lovar Garden with nature trails. Both are looking quite evocative here in the mist. ThisContinue reading “New In April/May: The Corsham Black & Whites + The Locks”
Studio Shangri-La Fine Art • Spring Deco Florals
Celebrating the bright warmth around here with local florals. In a modern deco scheme reminiscent of windows, these colorful works fancifully bring nature indoors. Available in large format and for high resolution download.
The Botanic Panels • Studio Shangri-La Fine Art Feature
There are many examples of the Botanic Panels in the Studio Shangri-La catalog. For more examples, please see below and also the Portfolio page. Admittedly, the catalog needs some updating! These are inspired by the Art Deco and Arts & Crafts movements. For further info, please use the Contact page.
Nature’s Abstraction • Studio Shangri-La Fine Art Photography
Today’s theme is abstraction in nature, and abstract ideas and forms being birthed from nature. DISPERSION is marbleized pollen in water. This effect can be achieved with paint, yet nature is the original artist.
Skyworks • Studio Shangri-La Fine Art Photography
Today’s theme is an awesome one — The Sky, both simple and complex, and beautiful to behold. There are many sky selections from over the years. These are just a few, including the video below. See the portfolio page for more also. Photographs are available for customized production and hi-res download. For that, please seeContinue reading “Skyworks • Studio Shangri-La Fine Art Photography”
Tech Essay: Studying Quantum Biological Processes To Improve Quantum Technologies
There are two reference sources for this article: The MIT xPRO Quantum Computing Fundamentals program & the textbook “Quantum Effects In Biology.” Upon first consideration, Quantum Computing and Quantum Biology seem to be very different fields, utilizing the principles of quantum mechanics in different ways. Quantum computing involves using quantum bits or qubits to performContinue reading “Tech Essay: Studying Quantum Biological Processes To Improve Quantum Technologies”
Nature Portraits by Studio Shangri-La • Now On View At Beth Israel’s New Klarman Building
Nature Portraits by Studio Shangri-La • the miracle of the mundane • Unlike the deco works, these are straight on. And a few of them now live in large format on Floors 7 & 8 at the now open-to-the-public Beth Israel Klarman Bldg! It just opened this month. The works at Klarman are in theContinue reading “Nature Portraits by Studio Shangri-La • Now On View At Beth Israel’s New Klarman Building”