In the deepest oceans, at the bottom of the sea…in our hunt for clean, carbon neutral energy, we disregard life that has thrived on our beautiful planet long before humanity existed. Marine organisms such as glass sponges are carbon cleaners that help to balance the fragile ecosystem on the ocean floor, whilst also providing a home for smaller creatures that otherwise would be swept away by the aggressive water currents.

Up above on the ocean surface exists another man made disaster, the great pacific garbage patch. This floating island of trash has provided a new habitat for coastal sea life that has been swept out to sea on ever stronger currents due to global warming. This is of course an ecological travesty and yet sea life is thriving here.

On land, Biologists faced with overwhelming amounts of refuse, worked to reduce these carbon emitting piles by training mycelium to digest the cellulose in a mountain of soiled diapers. Not only did they succeed, but the by product of these trials were edible, toxin free oyster mushrooms.

These speculative designs are an examination of how evolution may create never before seen life from this manmade detritus. Humanity may very well perish because of our thoughtless actions, but out of this darkness springs strangeness and a new hope.

Without darkness there cannot be light…