Life Aquatic
While our innate need to be in the presence of water, and have constant access to it is both philosophical and biological, Kevin Woodhurst argues it is also practical from a business perspective. Not only essential for survival, as the desire for water is the primary factor underpinning the existence of the watershaping industry, and arguably modern civilization itself.
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Time spent in the company of natural waters can become an obsession, and those experiences can fuel the creative spirit with inspiration and endless “design” ideas. Here Eric Herman recalls a day trip to a place in Oregon that stands as a perfect example of the serendipity of days devoed to seeking hidden wonders.
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While most people are familiar with the pleasure and excitement of time spent in the company of seas and oceans, far fewer are aware that seawater and its constituents have a long history of specific therapeutic benefits, and have led to an entire category of luxurious and healthful spa treatments – with a very fancy name.
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As much of the world’s ocean reefs are disappearing due to rising water temperatures, pollution and acidification, one artist is drawing attention to the waters' plight with his stirring sculptures that attract humans, while providing new habitats. One work in particular is gaining recognition due to its size, beauty and meaning.
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A mat of seaweed twice the size of the U.S. is headed toward Florida, raising the specter of dirty, stinky beaches and possible harm to coastal ecosystems. Record algal blooms are becoming more common as a result of climate change, while at the same time, farming seaweed might be a powerful weapon in the war against permanent environmental damage.
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Jellyfish are among the oldest and most diverse creatures on earth, and among the most mysterious, occupying a unique niche in the animal kingdom since the dawn of life. Both beautiful and potentially dangerous, science continues to learn evermore fascinating aspects of these translucent denizens of the water.
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Over a third of the world’s population lives in arid climates where water is scarce. A new technology developed by scientists and engineers at the University of Texas at Austin have synthesized material that might be able to help water-insecure people access safe drinking water in areas where it doesn’t rain.
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The popularity and presence of urban bathhouses are on the rise, a trend driven by post-pandemic demand for healthy communal experiences among urban consumers. A mainstay of civilized societies for centuries the world over, public bathing facilities experienced sharp decline in the second half of the 20th century, but may once again play an important role in physical, mental and “social” wellness.
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It might seem a silly question at first, but when stepping back and considering why ice is so slick, and poses such a hazard to us bipedal hominids in the form of slip-and-fall injuries, the answer is more nuanced and surprising than we initially think.
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End of the Endless Summer