Of Futuristic Med Spas & Fine Water Cellars

The future now of healthcare is the medical Spa. This is what hospitals need to become as a much needed upgrade. Let’s have a soothing retreat with the latest physically noninvasive / non-damaging modalities and regenerative therapies, instead of outdated institutional torture that treats people (and animals) like lifeless meat instead of sacred, sentient multi-scaleContinue reading “Of Futuristic Med Spas & Fine Water Cellars”

Designing Permeable, Self Healing Pavement That Nourishes The Environment

Designing Permeable, Self Healing Pavement That Nourishes The Environment  By Sarah Ikerd, Studio Shangri-La Multimedia, July 2025  Sarah.ikerd@studio-shangri-la.com http://www.studio-shangri-la.com; https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah-Ikerd  Figure 1: Basic Layers & Process Abstract Drawing from both natural chemistry and bio-inspired engineering, next generation regenerative pavement reimagines infrastructure as a living ecosystem partner. Made from layered travertine, lava rock and microbial agents,Continue reading “Designing Permeable, Self Healing Pavement That Nourishes The Environment”

A 4 Quadrant Solution For Waste Management & Plastics

With a high level systems thinking or systems engineering approach, even the most complex situations can be sifted into manageable categories and then simplified into the approachable, actionable steps. The above infographic simplifies the global waste management, and plastics and microplastics quandary into quadrants of solution. A quadrant is an instrument used for surveying, soContinue reading “A 4 Quadrant Solution For Waste Management & Plastics”

Research Notes: Observations Of Phototaxis & Lorentz Force

From recent tests of the UV Reactor, I’ve seen the Polyethylene cup undergo some deformation such as buckling at the walls and slight cracking at the edges. The testing process will continue being adjusted such as altering the container’s shape. During this process, as I counted on, I’m observing interesting phenomena and behavior of lightContinue reading “Research Notes: Observations Of Phototaxis & Lorentz Force”

Plastic-To-Water Lab Notes: Testing A Desktop UV Reactor With Sound

As the popular quotation goes, “do what you can with what you have.” The exploration of science and life is open to many pathways. In this continued series of experiments, the overall goal is to transmute or catalyze plastic into water with light, and possibly the addition of sound. So, using what amounts to molecularContinue reading “Plastic-To-Water Lab Notes: Testing A Desktop UV Reactor With Sound”

From Plastic To Water With Data: Charting A Course Of Light

In designing a photocatalytic plastic waste to water receptacle, the light array for the inside is the crucial component, and to determine what lights, in addition to ultraviolet, may be effective and complementary in expediently transmuting PET, for example. The included data table compares the nanometer equivalencies of ionization potentials (in eV) for Hydrogen, Carbon,Continue reading “From Plastic To Water With Data: Charting A Course Of Light”

Impactful Environmentalism: Rainwater Collection & Filtration Systems

There are certain environmental actions that are quite approachable and easy to take. Rainwater collection and filtration at individual homes and other buildings is a great opportunity for efficiency and abundance. The drain pipe in the video was able to collect a gallon of water in under 10 seconds. There is immense potential for decentralizedContinue reading “Impactful Environmentalism: Rainwater Collection & Filtration Systems”

Design Of Experiment & Data Collection: Ionization Levels & Electron Affinity Of Water

Purpose: Seeking to ascertain the energetic differences between Hydrogen, Carbon and Oxygen and the state of liquid water — specifically, the ionization levels of the outer valence electrons. That is, what synergetic light wavelength stimulus could it take to move these elements, that also comprise the basic polymeric makeup of plastics, into a new butContinue reading “Design Of Experiment & Data Collection: Ionization Levels & Electron Affinity Of Water”

DoE Research Notes: Sourcing Sustainable Metallurgy For Photocatalytic Waste-To-Water Receptacles

”You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” ~ Buckminster Fuller In continuing to post the Design of Experiment series, I document the process of realizing a photocatalytic trash can that can convert waste such as plastics into water and possibly other useful byproduct. TheContinue reading “DoE Research Notes: Sourcing Sustainable Metallurgy For Photocatalytic Waste-To-Water Receptacles”

Design of Experiment (DoE): Light Energy + Molecular Dynamics For Transformation Of Plastic Into Water

Author: Sarah Ikerd, Studio Shangri-La, sarah.ikerd@studio-shangri-la.com Visualizations by Meta AI Llama 3 On ResearchGate The next step in creating photocatalytic circular waste receptacles that can transform plastic into water, as in the beautifully illustrated accompanying visualizations by Meta AI, is to specifically hone that process. The first focus will be on the common PET, althoughContinue reading “Design of Experiment (DoE): Light Energy + Molecular Dynamics For Transformation Of Plastic Into Water”

Studio Shangri-La Research Notes: Pathways From Plastic To Water

In constructing a process and device that uses a photochemistry to break down or rather transform plastics into useful byproducts such as water and hydrogen, it becomes necessary to delve into of course photonics, chemistry, physics, earth science and of course experimentation, application of the concepts in a learn-by-doing style. Climate action is of courseContinue reading “Studio Shangri-La Research Notes: Pathways From Plastic To Water”

Studio Shangri-La Lab Notes: From Plastic To Water By Photochemistry

To say that the successful and so far safe transformation, or alchemization, from plastic to water is a pleasant surprise is an understatement. I’m excited on different levels – pun intended – to discover that the ideal expected outcome is possible, of safely using UV lights to photocatalyze plastic into water is practical. There areContinue reading “Studio Shangri-La Lab Notes: From Plastic To Water By Photochemistry”

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…”