Videos:
Unleash Your Creativity In A Fab Lab by Neil Gerschenfel - This TED 2006 talk by Neil Gerschenfeld, Director at MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms is an excellent reminder that very little may be needed to solve common problems and excellent engineering talent can be found far away from universities. Also a call to decentralized problem solving - locals have the most knowledge to find solutions to their challenges and may only need few resources to implement those solutions. The Center for Bits and Atoms website is also a goldmine.
The Genius of 3D Printed Rockets by Veritasium - No words needed.
Reading:
Viriditas on Century of Biology, by Elliot Herschberg - a compelling argument that our growth on Earth and expansion beyond Earth must rely on Biology as a source for new ideas, technologies and interfaces to interact with the universe. Strongly in agreement with this since answers to many complex problems lie in biology. As an example, in using 3D printing for complex manufacturing the optimization of structures under specific physical and mechanical constraints results in bio-like forms. Project Hail Mary, a brilliant sci-fi read by Andy Weir, heavily relies on biological organisms and biology research to save Earth from the ultimate apocalyse.
“Antedisciplinary” Science by Sean R Eddy - solid reasoning for scientists to pursue multiple disciplines to find new perspectives, a push for “interdisciplinary people” not just interdisciplinary teams. Nobel Laureate Jack Kilby immediately comes to mind. Credited for the creation of integrated circuit along with Robert Noyce, Kilby “for years read every new patent issued by the U.S. Government. Some were arguably related to his work… Other seemed rather far removed”1. To make resistors the same size, Kilby used tiny sand blasters that had been created for dental procedures to carve away excess carbon.
He Dropped Out to Become a Poet, Now He’s Won a Fields medal by Jordana Cepelewicz - Wonderful short biography of June Huh, 2022 awardee of the Fields Medal, the highest global honor in Mathematics.
Don’t Hire People Unless the Batteries Are Included by Michael Hyatt - Quick read on a key trait for building teams that get stuff done.
What I Miss About Working at Stripe by Brie Wolfson - Great, and unusual, piece on the joy of toiling on something important with a driven team.
Dear Airbnb by Joe Gebbia - Heartwarming farewell from Airbnb’s co-founder Joe Gebbia. Brian’s letter to Airbnb on Joe is excellent too.
The Chip, T.R. Reid. Pg 65