The word alien conjures up little green men, tentacled or scaled, but definitely green. Why green? Who knows, yet let’s go with it. Alienology, then, should be the study of aliens—and therefore, the study of green aliens. It may be an emerging science; it is also a Los-Angeles based design studio known to create green products. Have you followed my convoluted logic so far (speaking of green, perhaps I should reduce my absinthe consumption).

Spore Lamp. Designed by Alienology.

One of Alienology’s green pieces, the aptly-named Spore Lamp, earns its green label for various reasons: 1) the floor lamp is made from a single sheet of plywood; 2) it ships flat; and it includes an energy-efficient 40 W spiral bulb. I foresee the objections here. How is the Spore Lamp contributing to the green science? Alienology will field (did you get that pun?) this question: “It is made out of nesting set of curvy ribs perfectly interlocking on a flat sheet, thus minimizing material waste.” You must assemble the birch plywood Spore Lamp at home. Don’t fret: it should only take 10-15 minutes of your precious time (luckily, the assembly directions have not been translated from the Chinese).

Spore Lamp measures 70 cm high with a diameter of 26 cm. I like to think it looks like a dressmaker’s dummy for aliens—and maybe it is. Alienology, after all, is a great name for a front company: it’s too obvious to cause suspicion. I, for one, do not discount the possibility that the Spore Lamp’s creators may be extraterrestrial—because the Spore Lamp is indeed out of this world.