Solarpunk: Post-Industrial Design and Aesthetics [Eric Hunting — 7/20 — Illustrations by Dustin Jacobus] Introduction: Overview of the Solarpunk World: Phases of Solarpunk History: Core Principles of Post-Industrial Design: Packaging, and Living Without It: Energy: Modular Building Systems: Domestic Goods: Clothing: Architecture and Housing: Furnitecture: Vehicles and Transportation Systems: Computers…

Natrium is a game-changer. — In 2008, Bill Gates founded TerraPower to develop the next generation of planet-saving nuclear technology. The fruit of his company’s labour is Natrium, a liquid sodium-cooled fast reactor that is over 50% cheaper, safer, and even more environmentally friendly than current nuclear power. As such, it is poised to revolutionise…

The world is changing. Are you? — The rise of AI, economic inequalities, India, and the Middle East is happening at the same time the US and Western Europe are struggling with self-induced crises. These evolutions are going to impact the world like nothing did since the end of WWII. Here are ten predictions for the next…

Orbital Marine could turn the tide on climate change. — The world is waning under the immense weight of our vast carbon emissions and rife ecological crimes. If we carry on in this way, then Earth will no longer be our bountiful garden of Eden and instead resemble something far closer to hell. To stop this Hadian vision of the…

This January, the World Economic Forum reconvened in Davos. The annual gathering has been criticized as a place where the globalist elite gather to conspire against the rest of us. But Malcolm Collins scoffs at the idea anything important happens there. ‘Davos is where lower-level elites go to be told…

By Iris ten Have & Torben Schreiter The problem: cooling is responsible for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions Commercially available compressor-based cooling systems cause roughly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and use about 20% of the available electrical energy. These anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions cause global warming effects. Ironically, as the earth is heating up due to the greenhouse gases…

Part 1: Exploring innovations to support zero carbon, bio-based and circular construction. — This is the first in a series of posts introducing the work Dark Matter Labs (DML) has been doing over the past two years as part of the Laudes Foundation funded HCC: EU CINCO project, to support efforts to decarbonise construction through the use of low embodied carbon, bio-based materials…

Assessing a global meat company in an economy serving life — Continuing the journey towards an economy working in service of life, I recently rounded the corner on the Matereality assessment of JBS, one of the world’s largest food companies. Purveyors of diversified animal and plant proteins, leather, biodiesel, and more, JBS have outsized influence on life as we know it…

Looking for climate tech or related accelerator and incubator programs? We’ve made a list of 25 accelerators across the world. This post follows on our first publication of accelerators and incubators across the US and EU. These programs fund early-stage/pre-seed and seed climate tech companies over a range of areas…

When technology becomes technocracy, it takes away the joy of living and the dignity of life. — Ivan Illich in his 1973 book, Tools for Conviviality, conceptualized the threat that arises when tools and technology reach thresholds beyond which they become irremediably damaging to people and environment. After these thresholds are crossed, tools become destructive not only in cultural and material terms but fatally disabling in personal…

Like lots of people these days, I enjoy spending time thinking about & investing in companies shaping “the Future of Work”. For that reason, I keep getting asked by my investor friends whether I have any cool lists of startups for them or insights I’d be happy to share. I…

In Chinese mythology, there are five islands in the Bohai Sea, inhabited by immortal beings who have discovered the elixir of life. Many have searched for the islands, but no one have yet found them. …

This article explores the system challenges that underpin the current retrofit ‘ecosystem’. It is part of the ‘A Right to Retrofit’ series, and you can read all other related blogs by following the links at the bottom of the page. Over the past nine months Dark Matter Labs has been…

The Future of Humanity, Part 7 — This is the last post in my modestly titled seven-part series on the future of humanity. The series starts here. Based on all the evidence and analyses we have reviewed in the first six parts, we can now draw some conclusions as to what a post-carbon future for humanity might…

You wonder as much as I how our life will look like in 10 years? Then keep reading. In this article, I will summarize my insights from this year's 2bAHEAD future congress from BMW-World in Munich, which happened on the two days of July 20th and 21st. Sven Gabor Janszky…

The role of play, care, and trust in Civic Design — Reflection on the Lecture by Eric Gordon — This essay was written by Aude Vuilliomenet, Jasmine Omeke, and Ruth Nelson as part of our Emerging Leaders Program. Summer has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere. Walking through London, Amsterdam, or even Chicago, the atmosphere feels different. People are out — the parks and public swimming pools welcome residents to…

‍ The rapid rise of virtual reality and its mainstream adoption, there is talk once again of a digital utopia; this time called the Metaverse. The Metaverse is a digital space where people can interact with each other in VR. It exists as a separate entity from our real world…

by Kristin McDonald Eniac has been investing in sustainability for over a decade. It is an important space for us and a lifelong personal passion of mine. Over the years, we’ve found that our thesis in the space — and the investments we make as a result — often extend…