Sublime

nature’s first trick of the trade is that nature manufactures its materials under life-friendly conditions—in water, at room temperature, without harsh chemicals or high pressures.

Our journey began ten thousand years ago with the Agricultural Revolution, when we broke

nature makes only what she wants where she wants and when she wants.

Self-assembly, then, is nature’s third trick of the materials trade.

Nature runs on sunlight. Nature uses only the energy it needs. Nature fits form to function. Nature recycles everything. Nature rewards cooperation. Nature banks on diversity. Nature demands local expertise. Nature curbs excesses from within. Nature taps the power of limits.

Which leads to nature’s fourth trick of the trade—the ability to customize materials through the use of templates.

warm-up for our real break from Earthly orbit—the Petrochemical and Genetic Engineering Revolutions.