Under A Metal Sky

The book Under A Metal Sky explores how the discovery and use of minerals beneath the Earth's surface have fundamentally transformed human civilization, driving major leaps in science and culture throughout history. The author, Philip Marsden, traces this influential history by highlighting key substances like tin and copper, which initiated the Bronze Age; silver, which fueled global trade; and lithium, which is essential to modern technology. Marsden takes readers on a journey from places like the tin mines of Cornwall to the gold-rich mountains of Georgia. Ultimately, the book reveals how these essential minerals have not only shaped our historical development but also defined our complex and often troubled relationship with the natural world.

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The Future Is Fungi Award 2025

The Future is Fungi Award 2025 is a global recognition celebrating the most innovative entrepreneurs and scientists using fungi to create environmental solutions.

This year's award saw 187 entries from 59 countries. The competition highlighted visionary leaders in the global movement to harness fungi's potential.

Top Three Innovators

The top three startups were recognized for their groundbreaking work:

1. Michroma (US & Argentina) - Winner. Creating next-generation, fungi-based natural food colors and flavors to replace petrochemical-derived ingredients.

2. Mycolever (Germany) - Producing next-gen fungal bio-ingredients for personal care and cosmetics, offering sustainable alternatives to petrochemical, animal, and plant-based components.

3. Hiro Technologies (US) - Developing the world's first "MycoDigestible" diapers, using plastic-eating fungi to break down soft plastic waste in months instead of centuries.

The winner, Michroma, received a €250,000 investment. All top three startups gain access to a world-class network of partners, including L'Oréal, Novonesis, BASF, and Stanford University.

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Trovador

Marta Bernardino and Sebastião Mendonça developed Trovador, a six-legged, A.I.-powered robot specifically designed to plant trees in challenging, wildfire-damaged terrain that is difficult for humans to access. Their goal is to help reforest Earth and restore nature on a large scale. The public is invited to become part of this environmental "revolution" by joining their crowdfunding campaign to support the construction and deployment of this innovative reforestation robot.

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Purple Fever: Carlos Mota

Purple Fever by Carlos Mota is a celebratory book that explores the color purple across its diverse manifestations in nature, art, interiors, and design. This color, traditionally associated with royalty, creativity, luxury, magic, and peace, is examined in everything from natural elements like lavender and amethyst to its presence in fashion, jewelry, and architecture. Following his previous work, Mota highlights purple's power to inspire creativity and mystery globally. The book showcases the astonishing variety of purple, ranging from the subtle hues of flowers like orchids and pansies to its use in famous artworks by artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe and Monet, and its appearance in items like royal robes and velvet upholstery. Illustrated with Mota's own photographs from his travels, alongside images by renowned photographers, the volume even includes rooms decorated in purple by notable designers, ultimately serving as a testament to the color's ability to inspire, excite, and fascinate.

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Dior By Yuriko Takagi

The book Dior by Yuriko Takagi offers a unique artistic perspective on the most iconic Dior haute couture designs, featuring exclusive photography by Yuriko Takagi. Takagi provides her own personal reinterpretation of Dior's essence, engaging in a deep creative dialogue with the House's established codes. Her photographs are renowned for capturing an ephemeral, intangible quality in their subjects. Using her signature technique of layering images—specifically combining flowers and architectural patterns with images of dress toiles and models—she achieves a dreamlike atmosphere. This results in a highly poetic collection, presenting a surrealist promenade through the history of Dior and offering a distinctive look at the House's continuous inventiveness across the decades.

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RetuRO: A Global Success Story

 RetuRO, the company operating Romania's deposit return system (DRS) through a public-private partnership with beverage packaging manufacturers and the state, has achieved remarkable success since its launch in November 2023. CEO Gemma Webb described the project as a "zero to hero story," highlighting the system's effectiveness in collecting clean, highly recyclable products with low contamination and full traceability. As a result, RetuRO claims to be the largest fully integrated deposit return system globally. Between its launch and the end of September 2025, Romanians returned approximately 7.5 billion beverage containers, including 4 billion PET bottles, 2 billion metal cans, and 1.5 billion glass containers, resulting in the collection of over 500,000 tonnes of high-quality recyclable materials.

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Schilthornbahn 20XX Project

The Schilthornbahn 20XX project outlines a plan to upgrade the cable car system. The section between Stechelberg and Mürren will feature a traditional cable car with a capacity of 800 passengers per hour, and will also incorporate fully automated logistics for goods and luggage. Above Mürren, the system will switch to Funifor cable cars connecting the stations of Birg and Schilthorn. The Funifor system was chosen for its excellent wind stability and its ability to utilize compact, low-rise station buildings. All new station buildings will adhere to an integrated architectural concept developed in collaboration with federal and cantonal cultural and heritage preservation offices.

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Hotel Mürren Palace

The Hotel Mürren Palace, built in 1874, is a prominent landmark in Mürren and is nicknamed "Switzerland's first palace." Known for its elegance and grandeur, the hotel has a history of hosting high-profile guests, including celebrity skiers and Hollywood actors like Rita Hayworth. During the 20th Century, its opulent ballroom served as a key meeting point for high society.

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