EnvironmentThe good news
A new park in Monza makes room for rain, too
Presented on 28 September, a park of over 8,000 square metres combines trees, play areas and a pond for holding excess water.
From the archive: the edition of , with the original dates and sources for every story. Read the latest edition.
Edition of 30 September 2026
N° 023 8 stories to take with youPerspectives.
ScienceThe good news
A recipe for the Moon gets its first tests on Earth
At Glenn Research Center, biodegradable plastic is mixed with dust that imitates lunar and Martian material. It is still experimental.
SocietyThe good news
Rimini opens a help desk for feeling less new in town
Since 25 September, Rimini4Talent has offered free guidance on housing, transport, work and training to students, professionals and families.
Archive · Nicolaianna · CC BY-SA 4.0
EnvironmentThe bright side
Bringing a forest back takes people, too
FAO presents its 2026 forest report: rights, lasting finance and care for the wider landscape belong alongside the trees.
Archive · Alex Popovkin · CC BY 2.0
Moving forward.
SocietyThe bright side
Small firms are innovating more. A rocket is optional
ISTAT’s 24 September report finds more innovation activity in 2022–2024. Better ways of working count, while resources and sustainability remain challenges.
CultureThe bright side
In Sudan, recovery starts with learning to read the damage
UNESCO reports training 72 professionals and assessing 12 cultural sites: practical groundwork for deciding what needs attention first.
CultureThe good news
Bologna and Buenos Aires: learning travels both ways
On 29 September, the University of Bologna described programmes already operating at its Argentine campus. Semesters, placements and partnerships connect two academic communities.
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Archive · FabioDuma · CC BY-SA 3.0
WorldThe bright side
In Amman, a place to learn and be heard
A UNICEF visit highlights community support for children and families. These services already exist, and need lasting support as funding falls.
A little more to discover.
Design · Philosophy · Plants · Curiosities · Words · Food · Cultures & peoples. Ideas worth a closer look.
01Design
Sori Yanagi: two curves can become a stool
The Butterfly Stool invites us to follow the wood from seat to floor: one shape can do more than one job.
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Iris Murdoch: we can change how we see another person
Before deciding what to do, it matters what we notice in other people: even a familiar judgement can be reconsidered.
Read the full story03Plants
Prickly pear: those broad pads are not leaves
A flat shape can fool the eye: this cactus helps us separate what a plant part looks like from its botanical name.
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Fennec fox: those ears have two jobs
In the desert, this small fox’s large ears help it find food and release heat. An unusual shape can have several uses.
Read the full story05Words
Matita: an Italian pencil word with a stone in its past
The Italian word matita preserves a link to hematite. Its history is a different question from what a modern pencil contains.
Read the full story06Food
Red cabbage: an ingredient that changes colour
Cabbage pigments can look different as acidity changes: a kitchen discovery to observe without confusing a colour clue with an exact measurement.
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Batik: designing where the colour cannot go
Wax can protect part of a cloth from dye. In Indonesia, this technique brings together skill, context and the passing on of knowledge.
Read the full storyOriginal illustrations made with AI assistance. Facts and sources stay in plain sight.
That is quite a lot of good for one day.
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