In an earlier blog I introduced my favorite mycologist, Paul Stamets with some excerpts from The Shark’s Paintbrush. Paul has just released a book, Fantastic Fungi, and a stunning film by gifted time lapse filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg.
Here’s more from my conversation with Paul …
I asked why nature would need to make mushrooms so toxic, and he gave a sensible answer. “Just because mushrooms […]
Weekend before last, the nation enjoyed that great American institution, the Super Bowl, which our friend Kasey observed by getting her own minor concussion during a unscheduled encounter with a marble breakfast bar. In fact, she wasn’t even watching the game, but lacing up her shoes to hike Nevada’s Red Rock Canyon. Her injury, however is one that football players […]
My wife Francesca has suggested that I’m a Bookaholic, but I think that’s a bit extreme. (I can quit anytime I want to …) I do have a lot of books and keep multiple copies of certain favorites so that I can share them with people I meet who I think would enjoy the content. Janine’s book, Biomimicry, is in this group—I […]
In my last blog, I shared some content from The Shark’s Paintbrush about fungi—now let me introduce you to the remarkable mycologist who shared his knowledge of these underappreciated organisms.
Paul Stamets is a colorful, bearded, man of the forest. The first time I met him he was wearing a dapper felt hat—that turned out to be made from mushroom fiber. This deeply knowledgeable, passionate […]
It’s surprising how cavalier we humans can be about our own safety. Many of the products we use daily on our bodies include chemicals that are known to be toxic or carcinogenic. As the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (a coalition working under the aegis of the Breast Cancer Fund) points out, we’re not just talking about things like lipstick. Shampoo, […]
It’s so inspiring to see young people addressing the challenges and opportunities of designing cleaner, more sustainable products and technologies—nowhere more so than with the Biomimicry Student Design Challenge. Facilitated by the Biomimicry 3.8 Institute, the Challenge aims to promote the exploration of innovative, bio-inspired designs among college students. The challenge topic is announced in the fall, giving students nearly […]
It’s shaping up to be a busy summer! I’m heading to Australia at the end of July to visit my hometown of Perth, and also to speak at the Colourways Trend Workshop in St. Kilda. Back to California for a week and then off to the Ashland Green and Wild festival, hosted by my publisher, White Cloud Press. This […]
I ran across this article in an Australian publication, Business Insider, about the new “RoboClam, […]
Most of our environmental and economic problems result from an out–of–date way of doing business. Industry has continued to depend on the same old “heat, beat, and treat” methods that were mechanized in the industrial revolution, but these methods simply aren’t sustainable. Nature, on the other hand, constantly evolves, survives, and thrives, while not using up or endangering its base resources. It reinvents itself, […]
I’m often fascinated by natural camouflage, and even included a bit about it in the book:
Nature is also the true master of camouflage. From the almost invisible stone flounder and octopus to the snow fox, leafy sea dragon, and praying mantis, stealth is the difference between life and death. Unless mating, nature’s creatures do not like […]
