Medicine: Bacteria May Become the ‘Bread & Butter’ of the Architect’s Future
For me, this is quite an exciting story …I hope you enjoy! Bacteria and viruses have long been considered the enemy from a generic societal viewpoint, due to catching colds, flus, and common ailments. Yet, bacteria seems to be stepping into its own, as we discover its beneficial effects within our ecosystems.
“This is a big shift in how we’ve previously conceptualized microbial life. We’ve long treated bacteria as the enemy. But it turns out that few of the germs we’re constantly trying to kill with hand sanitizer actually cause disease—and the more bacteria we have on the whole, the better.
In fact, our habit of ultra-sterilization appears to be hurting us. A number of recent studies have lent credence to the so-called “hygiene hypothesis,” which attributes the uptick in autoimmune and allergic diseases, including eczema and asthma, to a lack of early childhood exposure to germs.”
Acknowledging how advantageous bacteria really is reminds me of the antibiotics Special Report I wrote last week discussing how the ingestion of antibiotics overtime actually kill the healthy bacteria within our gastrointestinal tract, in turn, reducing our immunity yielding a greater onset and duration of illness.
This story reveals a wonderful new branch of science –so new it has yet to be formally named! These are a couple of the terms scientists are considering as an option in identifying this emerging field of study: Building Ecology, or Microbial Ecology. This is such a natural evolution in the design of homes and buildings, taking us directly into the marriage of true sustainability with bio-inspired form and function.
“Green” Wall Design
Public Safety Answering Center II. (SOM)
In order to efficiently use bacteria in the construction and design of our homes, we need to better understand the intricacies of said bacteria. “Ideally, buildings of the future will be living, breathing ecosystems, constantly replenished with good bacteria to support human immune systems, while keeping out the (very few) bad bacteria that can hurt us…. ‘Bio walls’ [will be] made up of plants that filter the air. Microbes in the plants’ roots filter out volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, and other toxins, while also generating oxygen for breathing.”
If there’s one thing I do recall from undergrad microbiology class is that bacteria are ubiquitous –they are literally everywhere. Obviously –yet not so obvious to me for not realizing this sooner– there’s a reason germs can be found all over the place: Because they have a purpose …a fundamental purpose in life here within our planet’s biosphere.
What I find so fascinating is that not only are bacteria a basic building block of our health and well-being, but it’s an elemental piece of nature’s building blocks too. It seems science is catching on to the fact of what spiritual advocates have known all along in our hearts, yet could not produce the empirical evidence to prove it: We Are All One.
Finally, we are going back to our roots (pun intended!): Symbiosis with Mama Earth’s trees, plants, and bacteria… rather than polluting and excavating, exhausting all Her resources, and shredding Her rainforests.
Until our blessed day comes adorning our living quarters as part-wall and part-plant …and part-furniture, I encourage us to do one main thing to create a good-bacteria-filled home: Buy lots of plants!
How Germs Might Shape the Future of Architecture by Vicky Gan. City Lab.
Politics & Ethics: NSA’s Mass Surveillence Found Illegal!
Now here’s some more wonderful news: Judge declares NSA spying on citizens illegal –yippee yahooey. We’ll definitely take these victories, one by one, toward our ultimate and inevitable liberation and regaining of fundamental freedoms that have been previously chiselled away through various administrations.
Since our government was found in violation of crimes against its own people, let me please ask the question everyone wants to know: When is their court date to face these crimes? Wait… what? There is no trial scheduled? How could this be?
How can extreme offenses like these be executed by our own government day-in and day-out, and hardly anyone is ever held responsible? If more politicians and corporate leaders were arrested and prosecuted, then, it’s my belief, that might be a considerable deterrent for such criminal behavior from perpetuating, right?
“The unanimous decision [deemed] ‘an unprecedented contraction of the privacy expectations of all Americans’ …by the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, based in New York, said the intelligence agency far exceeded its legal powers in collecting so-called metadata on calls by hundreds of millions of Americans who were not specific targets of counter-terrorism or espionage investigations.”
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! This brings joy to my heart, as slowly but surely, change is coming. Our world is changing right before our eyes, although mainstream media (MSM) does not highlight this type of big news. Fortunately, this story was in MSM. And yet, do we recall how this all began?
Brief review: 9/11. “Initially authorized by the Bush administration after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the bulk collection of domestic phone data has been repeatedly approved since May 2006 by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which meets in secret and issues classified rulings.”
“Meets in secret,” “classified rulings,” and “protecting national security” are three phrases, to me, that have become synonymous with our beloved cabal taking away our sovereign freedoms, as evidenced by this ruling.
Thank goodness, the Light continues to envelop everyone on Lady Gaia, affecting all of us –some more than others, at the moment– to stand in integrity and start making the necessary decisions to eradicate the corrupt powers-that-be.
Now, in my humble opinion, let’s welcome home Edward Snowden (if he even wants to be here); give him praise, amnesty, and a hero’s return for initiating that one of our human rights being granted back to us: The freedom of personal privacy. Oh yeah, and let’s get him a statue in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene Park (wink wink).
Across our beautiful world, We Are All One.
Gavin