ScienceThe bright side
Twelve capsules to understand the heat of re-entry
NASA outlines KREPE-3: small experiments aboard Cygnus will investigate protection for future missions.
From the archive: the edition of , with the original dates and sources for every story. Read the latest edition.
Music for today ·Edition of 10 October 2026
N° 033 8 stories to take with you
Perspectives.
Moving forward.
ScienceThe bright side
Eight British hubs to test robotics before adopting it
The government announces a £40 million programme offering advice and demonstrations for businesses and public services.
WorldThe bright side
UNDP opens in Madrid: a new base for cooperation with Spain
The office opened on 9 October alongside a 2026–2029 partnership framework. The goals still need to become results.
EnvironmentThe good news
Sentinel-3C’s first images include a view of Italy
The first data were presented on 8 October: a new milestone after launch, while instrument checks continue.
CultureThe good news
Read-aloud stories return to Pesaro’s libraries
The autumn programme runs from 9 October to 22 December, with sessions for children aged 18 months to six years and their families.
A little more to discover.
Design · Philosophy · Plants · Curiosities · Words · Food · Cultures & peoples. Ideas worth a closer look.
01Design
Josef Albers: colour has neighbours
A square is never viewed entirely alone: Albers’s exercises reveal how much its surroundings contribute to what we think we see.
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Mill: hear the strongest objection
Knowing only one side of a question can weaken even our good reasons: Mill asks for a more demanding conversation.
Read the full story03Plants
Aspidistra: the leaves start below
It looks like a simple green clump, but the cast-iron plant builds its shape through a hidden stem and remarkably patient growth.
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Dragonflies: flight begins underwater
Before the four wings comes an aquatic life: metamorphosis connects two habitats we often look at separately.
Read the full story05Words
Considerare: an Italian word with stars behind it
Treccani traces the Italian verb to sidus, “star”. Its present use asks us to examine things, rather than consult a horoscope.
Read the full story06Food
Bread crust is more than dried bread
The Maillard reaction helps explain the colour and aroma of toast. Its name is singular, but the chemistry involves a family of changes.
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Wayang kulit: who moves the story behind the screen?
Leather figures, rods, light and voice: Javanese shadow theatre becomes richer when we notice the work that creates the image.
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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