Buckminster Fuller

Richard Buckminster Fuller (1895 – 1983) was an American architect, theorist, author, designer, inventor, and futurist.

Fuller popularized the geodesic dome which is a hemispherical thin-shell structure with a structurally rigid lattice-shell, which distributes the structural stress throughout the structure, making geodesic domes able to withstand very heavy loads for their size. Carbon molecules known as fullerenes and bucky balls (buckminsterfullerenes) were later named by scientists for their structural and mathematical resemblance to geodesic spheres and for their applications in materials science, electronics, and nanotechnology.

He invented tensegrity which he described as “islands of compressions in an ocean of tension.” Imagine a structure composed only of rods and of cables. The cables connect the ends of rods to other ends of rods. The rigid rods never touch one another. The structure is stable against the force of gravity. The structural integrity of such structures is maintained by a balance of tension and compression forces. As an example of such forces, when we push the two ends of a dangling spring together, we compress it. When we pull apart the two ends, we create more tension in the spring. Fuller recognized that the strength and efficiency of geodesic domes were based on a similar kind of structural stabilization that distributes and balances mechanical stresses in space. To some extent, we are tensegrity systems in which bones are under compression and balanced by the tension-bearing tendons.

Cloud Nine was his name for proposed airborne habitats created from giant geodesic spheres which are structures of triangular components arranged to become stronger as they become bigger, because of how they distribute stress over their surfaces. He calculated that a such a mile-wide balloon could lift a considerable mass, and hence that 'mini-cities' or airborne towns of thousands of people could be built in this way.

He invented the Dymaxion car which was a blend of the words dynamic, maximum, and tension to sum up the goal of his study, "maximum gain of advantage from minimal energy input". The car was not a success.

Fuller also helped to popularize the concept of Spaceship Earth: a worldview encouraging everyone on Earth to act as a harmonious crew working toward the greater good.