Before we dive into the exciting topics surrounding technology, perhaps we should first ask: what does technology actually have to do with nature? And why am I bringing this up in a tech blog?

Well, the question isn’t as easy to answer as it seems.

I grew up in Germany—East Germany to be precise—and later in Denmark after reunification. There were basically two constants in my life: nature and the outdoors, and my fascination with computers. Sure, kids love flashing monitors, but I didn’t really get hooked on technology until I connected to the internet. Wow, what a feeling… my first email address with Hotmail (this was before Microsoft acquired them, by the way).

But what I really want to explore is how nature and technology are fundamentally connected—a question that has always fascinated me.

We Are Biotechnology

If we look at the processes in our bodies, if we examine life itself, we inevitably realize that everything is “programmed” in a certain way. I’m not saying this with any negative connotation—it’s simply a fact. And that raises an interesting question: how can we use this to our advantage?

For me, consciously experiencing nature is always decisive. The moment I can take in nature in all its facets, I’m thrilled. This enthusiasm triggers a feeling of happiness that actually enables me to process thoughts more quickly. It’s like defragmentation—useful for optimizing stored data. And yes, if I also have 5G coverage, everything is perfect! After all, you want to be able to share those moments spontaneously 😉

Forest Bathing: Nature’s Debug Mode

A few years ago, I was on a beach in Tuscany during fall vacation. It was wonderful—hardly crowded, yet many places were still open despite the season winding down (if you ask me, the best time to visit Italy). While there, I read a fascinating article about “forest bathing.”

Apparently, researchers conducted a study with two groups of 30 participants each, both exposed to stress indicators. To see how quickly stress could be reduced, one group was taken to a nearby forest for a walk. The other group remained indoors.

The results? The group in nature completely and sustainably reduced their stress within about 15 minutes. The other group took much longer.

How did researchers explain this? Spending time in nature—especially forests—triggers primal patterns. The perception of green surroundings, natural sounds, the absorption of aerosols… all these elements are processed instantly by the brain, triggering immediate relaxation.

From that moment, I thought to myself: this should be replicable (typical techie thinking). And lo and behold—it worked every time.

The Human Operating System

This example shows us that we humans are also a type of technology: biotechnology. And that’s exactly what matters.

We’re incredibly sophisticated biological machines with operating systems that have been refined over millions of years. When we understand how our “hardware” and “software” work together, we can optimize our performance just like any other system.

Nature isn’t separate from technology—it’s the original technology. And the more we understand this connection, the better we can design human-centered solutions that work with our biological programming, not against it.

By the way, the photo shows a fjord. As I mentioned, I grew up in Denmark, and near Roskilde—close to where I first discovered the internet—was a beautiful forest (Denmark’s largest) with a fjord nearby. It was wonderfully scenic and relaxed me every day.

My Recommendation

Seek out these places in nature too. You’ll find they inspire you in ways that no amount of screen time can match. Sometimes the best debugging happens when you step away from the code entirely.

After all, we’re not just building technology—we are technology. The better we understand and maintain our biological systems, the better we can create solutions that truly serve humanity.

What’s your favorite place in nature for clearing your mind? I’d love to hear about the places that help you think more clearly.