and lessons that define our identities.
A Collection of Our Interviews
Architecture
Saudi Arabia′s capital has unveiled the world′s most ambitious driverless transit system, marking a transformative milestone in urban transportation. The Riyadh Metro, inaugurated December 1, 2024, weaves through the city with 176 kilometers of track, connecting 85 stations across six lines. This groundbreaking network represents more than just infrastructure—it embodies Riyadh′s vision for sustainable urban development and smart city innovation.
The crown jewel of this massive undertaking is the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) Metro Station, a masterpiece from the legendary Zaha Hadid Architects. This architectural tour de force serves as the network′s central nervous system, orchestrating seamless connections between the KAFD terminus, King Khalid International Airport, and the district′s monorail via the iconic KAFD Skybridge.
Conservation and Sustainability
In a groundbreaking development at Oxford Brookes University, Professor Iakovos Tzanakis and Dr. Morteza Ghorbani have engineered an innovative solution to one of environmentalism′s most persistent challenges: the removal of ″forever chemicals″ from our water supplies. Their hydrodynamic reactor, utilizing advanced bubble cavitation technology, presents a promising path forward in the battle against toxic per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. This transformative research, published in the June 28, 2024, issue of Chemical Engineering Journal, addresses the global crisis of PFAS infiltration in water sources through industrial waste, landfills, and agricultural runoff.
PFAS chemicals, present in everyday products since the 1930s—from waterproof clothing to nonstick cookware—have left an indelible mark on our environment and health. Linked to serious health conditions including cancer and liver damage, these substances have proven…
Architecture
Imagine a future where humans call Mars home. This vision is no longer confined to science fiction, thanks to groundbreaking projects like Mars Dune Alpha, a 3D-printed habitat designed to pave the way for long-duration space exploration.
Developed by the renowned architecture firm BIG in partnership with NASA and ICON, Mars Dune Alpha is more than just a prototype. It′s a meticulously crafted analog habitat located at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, serving as a crucial testing ground for NASA′s CHAPEA program. Here, astronauts will embark on year-long simulated missions, providing invaluable data on human health, performance, and resource management in a Mars-like environment.
Stepping inside this 1,700-square-foot structure is like entering a glimpse of the future. BIG′s design philosophy shines through…
Our Narratives is a collection of original artwork, research, and commentary that fully encapsulates and displays each creator′s unique stories and experiences, with the purpose of inspiring as many readers as possible.
Recent Interviews
Smart Crystals Draw Inspiration from Desert Life to Revolutionize Water Harvesting
Dr. Panče Naumov, Image credit: NYU Abu Dhabi Smart Crystals Draw Inspiration from Desert Life to Revolutionize Water Harvesting Water scarcity remains one of the
Dragon’s Tender Whispers: The Artistic Journey of Junko Umemiya
Bridging ancient wisdom with contemporary vision, Junko Umemiya elevates Japanese painting to new spiritual heights, where tradition meets modern sensibility. Her masterful technique, employing washi paper as canvas and traditional gansai and iwa enogu pigments…
Navigating with Precision: How Kuhl’s Pipistrelle Bats Use Acoustic Maps and Vision
Echolocating bats have long captivated scientists with their remarkable ability to navigate through complete darkness. Recent research has revealed that these bats possess an “acoustic cognitive map,” allowing them to identify their location after being displaced and travel long distances solely using echolocation…
Articles
Architecture/Design
Riyadh Metro: A Paradigm Shift in Urban Mobility
Mars Dune Alpha: Pioneering a New Era of Space Architecture
Singapore’s Vertical Garden: CapitaSpring Wins World’s Best High-Rise
DATALAND: The World’s First AI Art Museum Set to Open in Los Angeles
Ithra and Colab Unite to Launch Pioneering Materials Library in Saudi Arabia
Energy Vault and SOM Unveil Revolutionary Gravity Energy Storage Partnership
Zaha Hadid Architects Weaves Floating Indoor and Outdoor Spaces for Sejong Cultural Centre
A Harmonious Blend of Danish and Japanese Architecture: NOT A HOTEL on Sagi Island
Spiraling Toward the Future: The Star’s Visionary Hollywood Office Tower
Dr. Mattheos Santamouris: Leading the Charge in Urban Cooling Innovations at UNSW Sydney
Moss Columns: Forging a New Alliance Between Nature and Technology
BIG’s Gelephu Master Plan: A Vision of Mindfulness and Sustainability in Bhutan
Innovating Architecture with YET: A Deep Dive into Material, Craftsmanship, and Vision
The Living Coral Biobank: Merging Architectural Genius with Profound Environmental Vision
Stefano Boeri Architetti’s “Green Obsession” Wins Prestigious United Nations SDG Action Awards
Designing a Sustainable Future: An Interview with Joe MacDonald, Founder of Urban A&O
Nature Inspired Biomimicry Design by Lilian van Daal
The New Adaptation of Rattan by Architect Patrick Keane
The Unity of Nature and Humans Designed by Diego Castro
Art
Dragon’s Tender Whispers: The Artistic Journey of Junko Umemiya
Refracting Brilliance: The Glass Artistry of Brent Kee Young
Taiwan’s Emerging Artist Julia Hung: a Dynamic Perspective on Multicultural Art
Fostering Aesthetic Elegance: The Visionary Glass Art of Jiyong Lee
Vanessa Barragão: The Fusion of Textile Art and Environmentalism
Harmonizing Art, Nature and Mathematics: The Captivating Kinetic Sculptures of Reuben Margolin
The Sublime Nature Beauty Portrayed by John MacDonald
A World “Neither Here nor There” as Portrayed by Nathan Walsh
DRIFT’s Performative Installations that Connect to Nature
A Pure Pursuit of Harmonious Coexistence with Nature by Sculptor Christian Verginer
The Dancing Iris by Ingrid Elias
The Breathtaking Scientific Glass Art Of Bernd Weinmayer
Tachiki Yoshie’s Exquisite Flora Art
The Ornate Woven Landscape by Taiwanese Artist, Lee Chen-Lin
The Paper Wonders of Rogan Brown
Photography
Orchestrating Ephemeral Moments: The Transcendent Vision of Jiří Hřebíček in Contemporary Wildlife Photography
Capturing Change from Above: The Aerial Vision of Photographer Nilmini De Silva
Stargazer Extraordinaire: Gary Lopez’s Fusion of Art and Astrophotography
The Ethereal Beauty of Deception: Georgina Steytler’s “March of the Spider Orchids”
The Microscopic Muse: Wim van Egmond’s Remarkable Journey in Art and Science
Through the Lens: Ju Shen Lee’s Journey to Document the Beauty and Bonds in South East Asia
Fusing Art and Science: Małgorzata Lisowska’s Exploration of Healing Through Microscope Photography
A Glimpse into the Microcosm: Hassanain Qambari’s Visionary Triumph in Nikon Small World Competition
Tim Boomer’s Triumph in the 2023 Nikon Small World Competition: A Deep Dive into Macro Photography’s Wonders
Capturing Nature’s Elegance: An Interview with the Siena Photo Awards 2023 Winner, Fabio Savini
Liron Gertsman: The Avian Virtuoso Behind the 2023 Audubon Grand Prize
Artisan and Craft
Polly Adams Sutton’s ‘Ebb Tide’: A Masterpiece of Contemporary Basketry
The Fascination of Bamboo Art: An Interview with Taiwanese Bamboo Artist Ching-Ke Lin
Tatami Reimagined: The Creative Journey of the Tatami ReFab Project
Unique Furniture Designs Combine Simplicity with Functionality by Deniz Aktay
From Wall Hanging to Tableware – The Appeal of Washi
Garri Dadyan, A Virtuoso of Metal Work
Ceramics/Pottery
Sculpting the Void: Ken Eastman’s Journey Through Form and Emptiness
Curtis Benzle’s Artistic Voyage: Refining the Elegance of Colored Translucent Porcelain
Mesmerized Wonders of Yuan-te Wang’s Ceramic Art
Paradigm of Perfection – Inaba’s Ceramics
“Kutani” Ware’s New Look By Kazuyoshi Kitamura
The Unyieldingly Talented Alberto Bustos
The Hands Bring the Indigenous & Modern Worlds Together by Valerie Seaberg
Digital Art/Media Art
Kahori Maki: Motion’s Muse and the Depth of Multi-Dimensional Artistry
Nature, Data, and Art: The Innovative Fusion in Claude Studio’s Media Artistry
Kathrin Federer’s Mesmerizing Digital Art
Community
Meet a Few of the Heroes behind the Marin County Genealogical Society
Guardians of Wild Birds in Marin, CA
How I Captured Mail Thieves
Conservation and Sustainability
Breaking the Forever Chain: A New Hope for PFAS-Free Water
Bacteria-Powered Plastics: A Breakthrough in Thermally Stable and Biodegradable Polymers
Israeli Scientists Utilize CRISPR Technology for Sustainable Farming: Advancing Towards Water-Saving Tomato Cultivation
Dr. Marco Contardi: Pioneering Coral Protection Research with Curcumin
Major Breakthrough in Synthetic Spider Silk Fabrication Made by Dr. Fuzhong Zhang
“Rootfull” Design by Zena Holloway
The Importance of Preserving Ancient Trees by Dr. Gianluca Piovesan
CCILU, the Forefront of Sustainable Shoe Making
Bring New Life to Coral Reefs by Jérémy Gobé
“The Science of Hope” – A Roadmap for Sustainability and Conservation Tourism
A Tasmanian Protector of Nature, Sarah Lloyd
Food/Health
Harnessing AI to Revolutionize Dementia Diagnosis with EEGs by Researchers at Mayo Clinic
Sea Cucumbers: A Promising Natural Solution for Diabetes Prevention and Management by Dr. Permal Deo
“Feed Your Brain” and “Feed Your Brain Cookbook“- Books on How to Nourish Your Brain by Dr. Delia McCabe
Chocolate Artistry by Luis Amado
Creating the Foodloose ‘Silk Road’ between the West and the East
Meera Cooks Nourishing Delicious Food
History & Prehistory
Ancient Insights: Unveiling the Mysteries of Rock Art in the Colombian Amazon
Sima Qian and Beyond by History Professor Grant Hardy
The Pacific Squadron of Imperial Russian Navy at San Francisco in 1863
Literature & Music
Special Dedication from Chener Cherry Yuan
Because I Could Not Stop for Death (479) ~ Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
Pilgrimage to Emptiness in Tang Poetry
Medicine
A Glimpse into the Microcosm: Hassanain Qambari’s Visionary Triumph in Nikon Small World Competition
Revolutionizing Regenerative Medicine: Dr. Kristopher Kilian’s Breakthrough with Trpzip Hydrogel
ERX-41, A New Paradigm for Cancer Treatment by Dr. Jung-Mo Ahn
Dr. John Sayer’s Discovery of TULP3-related Ciliopathy, A Breakthrough in Gene Medicine
Interview with Dr. Trounce, Director of Stanford Biosecurity
Andrew Hessel and His Creation
Philosophy
Riding the Waves of Change An Introduction to the I Ching
The Patterns of Life
Science
Smart Crystals Draw Inspiration from Desert Life to Revolutionize Water Harvesting
Navigating with Precision: How Kuhl’s Pipistrelle Bats Use Acoustic Maps and Vision
Unveiling Order in Cosmic Chaos: A Revolutionary Look at the Three-Body Problem
Nature’s Hidden Artistry: Unveiling the Secret Blueprints of Flower Patterns
Uncovering a New Marine Symbiosis: Rhizobia and Diatoms Partner to Fix Nitrogen and Boost Marine Productivity
Groundbreaking Discovery: Orangutan Uses Medicinal Plant for Wound Treatment
Unveiling Japan’s Hidden Flora: Dr. Kenji Suetsugu’s Botanical Discoveries
Unraveling Our Tailless Heritage: Dr. Bo Xia’s Groundbreaking Discovery on Human Evolution
Dr. Paul Robin’s Ionic Computing Revolution: Artificial Neurons Shaping the New Era of Future Electronic Memory
The Odyssey of Ekgmowechashala: Unearthing a Primal Puzzle
Travel
Northwest Loop Trip, China
All White in Wulan Butong, Inner Mongolia, China
{My China Trips} Mt. Huashan Trip
North Yellow Mountain ~ Baishi Mountain
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