Summer 2010 Issue

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Check out these clever images. www.kevinvanaelst.com A FB friend shared this link. So much of innovation is looking at traditional things in non-traditional ways. I like all the scientific reference in this artist's images, and I also like his use of the mudane to represent, in certain cases, some of humankind's most inspired discoveries.

Speaking of inspired discoveries (weak segue, I know) I have been working through back issue of National Geographic and found a great piece in the April 2008 book entitled "Designs From Nature." The article is about biomimetics. Researchers in this field study designs found in nature as a means of advancing modern technology. Many innovative designs have organic roots, for example cockleburs inspired velcro.

Another example that caught my attention had to do with creating dazzling color and metallic sheen. As a nerd, I have always been enamored with color. Wavelengths, photons, perception etc. etc. etc. It is amazing that different fundamental materials can achieve the same color function, and also that perception is such an important component of experiencing color (quiz: is a photon a particle or a wave?) As a person who thinks about decorative surfaces from many different viewpoints, including things like fashion/design and the technologies used in manufacturing surface materials, I am always interested in the science behind the visual. Biomimetics folks like Andrew Parker, an evolutionary biologist and contributor to the NG feature, carefully examined tropical birds and beetles to find out how their dazzling colors and metallic sheens have been optimized by millions of years of natural selection. What he discovered is that the visual effect is not derived from pigments, "but from optical features: neatly spaced microstructures that reflect specific wavelengths of light." Such structural color is more brilliant than pigment and fade-proof, making it very valuable for commercial development.

Part of what I love about my work is learning. It seems like looking carefully into almost anything reveals an amazing story. When you find something that makes you think "wow," do me a favor and send it my way.