NonA Weekly: BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
Image by @europeanspaceagency
Hi there!
According to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), “Biotechnology” is defined as: “Any technological application that uses the biological system, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.” Thus areas such as genetic engineering, cell/tissue culture and breeding through artificial selection all fall under the category of biotechnology.
Biodiversity on the other hand is generally defined as the variety of organisms living on Earth, which comprises genetic diversity, species diversity as well as ecosystem diversity.
This weeks’ newsletter is dedicated to the developments around Biotechnologies.
1. TECHNOLOGY DESIGNED BY NATURE
A playlist of TED TALKS that share exciting innovations and breakthroughs, and demonstrate what’s possible when humans draw inspiration from some of nature’s best work.
2. IS BIOTECHNOLOGY MESSING UP BIODIVERSITY?
Biodiversity provides us with a variety of plant and animal sources where we use as a basis for food, shelter and clothing. However, through rapid innovations of technology-driven by so-called modernization, human beings have interfered and seriously harmed BIODIVERSITY.
3. SURGE COMBINES HIGH AESTHETICS WITH ENVIRONMENTALLY ORIENTED TECHNOLOGY
Its natural aesthetics and technological forwardness are intended to making it an oasis of high aesthetic and ecological value. The park responds to both local climate and culture, serving as a meeting point for NATURE, tradition, and technology.
4. REWILDING WITH SYNTHETIC CREATURES COULD “SAVE NATURE”
Synthetic living creatures would be released into the wild to save endangered species and clean up pollution under this futuristic proposal by designer Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg. Her project called Designing for the Sixth Extinction, is designed to trigger debate about how artificial organisms could be used to solve environmental PROBLEMS.
5. HOW ALGAE BIOTECHNOLOGY CAN AFFECT THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT
Kurt Kohlstedt explores how integrating microalgae into buildings can create a dualistic system of LIVING and built, in order to perform services like create shade, generate power, and work with HVAC systems to modulate interior environments.
6. CAN GLOWING TREES ONE DAY REPLACE ELECTRIC STREETLIGHTS?
Bioluminescence – the production and emission of light by a living organism – is the overarching concept of the Glowing Plant Project, whose team members are essentially injecting flowering PLANTS with genes for bioluminescence.
7. FIVE WAYS BUILDINGS OF THE FUTURE WILL USE BIOTECH TO BECOME LIVING THINGS
Biology is capable of extraordinary feats of engineering, and the next frontier in building technology might be to make buildings part of nature. HERE are five ways we think the buildings of the future might become living, breathing things.
8. HOW DO THE ADVANCES IN BIOTECHNOLOGY PLAY A ROLE IN REDEFINING ARCHITECTURAL PRINCIPLES AND INNOVATION?
Today, the advances in biotechnology and synthetic biology are allowing architects to re-think the CONNECTION between the built environment with the natural environment. New materials that are responsive to their surroundings and can self-assemble, self-modify their molecular components and even harvest nutrients and energy from the environment to produce other usable components could change the way we practice architecture forever.
Stay creative and see you all next week!
Daniela
