This tutorial contains tips about researching for comics! I use research a lot in my own work, not just for dry stuff, but to make sure I am approaching all of my subjects with sensitivity and respect. In these post-Obama times I think it’s more important than ever to be able to bring that level of deeper understanding to your life and to your work.
Additionally, I’ve mentioned it here and there, but my formal background is in science. I went to UC Berkeley, which is one of the most respected research institutions in the world. I was lucky enough to do some research of my own during my time there, and I’ve included a lot of the same methods I used in my own research here. Anyone can do good research, and I hope this tutorial helps you with your own stuff :] You can see the blend between research and fantastical situations in my comics The Meek and Mare Internum.
All of my tutorials are released in lower-res format to the public 6 months after
publication at the Shingworks Patreon. You can access the full tutorial archive, as well as nearly 1.5
years worth of bonus content, by becoming a Patron :] The next tutorial is going up soon, so feel free to stop by!
and! thanks a ton in advance for not removing my text <3
talking about Rosie The Riveter, fun fact: while the We Can Do It picture has become the most-well known depiction of her in modern times, it wasn’t really a famous image when it was made—in fact, it wasn’t even intended to be her
the most famous depiction of Rosie The Riveter during WWII was probably Norman Rockwell’s painting
Mushrooms are the organisms that keep on giving.
They grow and feed the soil by breaking down organic matter. For centuries,
they’ve also been a staple in our diet.
Recently, people have started taking a closer look at mushrooms,
and more specifically, mycelium — the hidden root of mushrooms — as an
engineering material to produce goods like surfboards, packaging materials, furniture and even architecture.
As far as natural materials go, there’s
never been anything as versatile and cost-effective as fungi, says Sonia
Travaglini, a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering at UC Berkeley, who
is collaborating with artist and mycologist Philip Ross to unlock the
seemingly infinite potential of fungi.
Myceliumcan grow into any shape or size (the largest in the world blankets an entire forest in
Oregon). They can be engineered to be as hard and strong as wood or brick,
as soft and squishy as foam, or even smooth and flexible, like fabric.
Unlike other natural materials, mushrooms
can rely on their recycling properties to break down organic matter so you
can grow a lot of it very quickly and cheaply just by feeding it biodegradable
waste. In as little as two weeks, you can cultivate a hunk of mushroom that’s
brick-sized.
That mycelium actually takes in waste and carbon dioxide as it
grows (one species of fungi even eats
plastic trash) instead of expelling byproducts makes it far superior to other
forms of production.
Plus, when you’re done with mushroom,
you can compost it or break up the material to grow more mycelium from it.
“And, unlike forming synthetic
materials, which have to be made while very hot or under pressure, all of which
takes a lot of energy to create those conditions, mycology materials grow from
mushrooms which grow in our normal habitat, so it’s much less energy-intensive,”
said Travaglini.
In the lab,
Travaglini and other researchers crush, compress, stretch, pull and bend mycelium
to test the amount of force the material can tolerate.
They found that mycelium is
incredibly strong and can withstand a lot of compression and tension.
Most materials are only strong from
one direction. But mycology materials are tough from all directions and can
absorb a lot force without breaking. So it can withstand as much weight as a
brick, but won’t shatter when you drop it or when it experiences a hard impact,
said Travaglini.
As one of the newer organisms
receiving an application in biomimetics, a field of science that looks to
imitate nature’s instinctive designs to find sustainable solutions and
innovation, we might be getting merely a glimpse of what fungi is capable of.
“Mycology is still a whole new
field of research, we’re still finding more questions and still really don’t
know where it’s going to go, which makes it really exciting,” said Travaglini.
Image sources: Vice UK/Mazda & Pearson Prentice Hall
