Explorations by Others
Explorations into water's unusual and essential attributes are added periodically to this page in featuring relevant documentaries, exhibitions, performances and public discussions. Links to current and previously featured explorations may be accessed by clicking on the respective contributor's name.
Geoengineering and Global Water
Geoengineering is loosely defined as modifying or manipulating various planetary processes in order to counteract the effects of global climate change. It includes both remediation technologies that address the underlying causes of climate change (e.g., carbon sequestration) and the more desperate intervention technologies that address the effects of climate change (e.g., solar radiation management). Because water vapor is a mediator of rapid global climate change and was a major factor in abrupt changes that have occurred throughout the planet’s history, manipulating atmospheric water has become a major focus of geoengineering. Although volcanos and other natural events periodically influenced planetary climate regimes in the past, these proposed technologies would require implementation as long as the unfavorable consequences of climate change persist (perhaps indefinitely). So, how might shooting seawater aerosols into the air to whiten clouds, or dumping iron into oceanic waters to promote algae photosynthesis, or releasing sulfate particles into the air to reflect sunlight affect planetary water cycles? Scientists simply do not know; however, the proponents of geoengineering posit that the potential effects on Earth's waters are likely to be less catastrophic (at least to humans) than are those of climate change.
Kurzgesagt's pros and cons of geoengineering.
Creating Coral Reefs
Water, Food & Sustainability
Water, Food & Sustainability
Artist Colleen Flanigan explains the challenges facing coral reefs and how sculpture can serve both an aesthetic and an ecological function.
Water, Food & Sustainability
Water, Food & Sustainability
Water, Food & Sustainability
Scientist Arjen Hoekstra discusses the substantial impact of food choices on water resources via the use of water footprint calculations.
Functional Art in Nature
Water, Food & Sustainability
Functional Art in Nature
Artist Mara Haseltine talks about using art to design functional structures and to facilitate collaborations between scientists and artists.
Another Kind of Water
Treating Water Respectfully
Functional Art in Nature
Scientist Gerald Pollack talks about water's fourth physical phase and its applications to generating bioenergy to cleaning water itself.
Patterns of Ocean Plastics
Treating Water Respectfully
Treating Water Respectfully
Artist Pamela Longobardi documents the types and patterns of plastic wastes and then creates exhibits that draw attention to this ocean issue.
Treating Water Respectfully
Treating Water Respectfully
Treating Water Respectfully
Engineer Kepa Morgan uses his professional expertise and indigenous wisdom to address water treatment and environmental remediation.
Water & Climate Change
Water's Emergent Properties
Water & Climate Change
U.N. animation explores the connection between climate change and water, as well as why the resulting effects are evident through the water cycle.
Water as a Commodity
Water's Emergent Properties
Water & Climate Change
Discovery Channel looks at the new water futures market and its controversy in allowing investors to profit on the scarcity of an essential resource.
Water's Emergent Properties
Water's Emergent Properties
Water's Emergent Properties
Water's complex behaviors/structures emerge from simple interactions among its molecules that cannot be predicted from the molecules alone.