7. Structure: Building Beauty

In nature, biological materials build themselves. Nature needs no support in assembling itself at the smallest scales. Molecules randomly bounce off one another while generating and being generated by the life force in a simple process of movement that constructs the world. Everything around you that appears solid and reliable is composed of particles jitterbugging at imperceptible scales. Although it’s not a planned process, there are basic rules to this dance. Molecules must bind with weak bonds—or fast and temporary ones—so they can dissociate just as quickly and reassemble with other molecules. Continuous, self-acting motion is critical to nature’s success of renewing itself spontaneously and continuously. Human design begins in a simi....