7 THINGS WORTH KNOWING / 2 October 2026

Little Discoveries

Design · Philosophy · Plants · Curiosities · Words · Food · Cultures & peoples. 7 discoveries in this edition.

Lucienne Day: a garden can become a language of shapes

In depth · 3 min read

The British designer turned plants and colours into textile patterns: recognising a form does not require copying every detail.

In depth · 3 min read

In his first letter to Lucilius, the philosopher admits to wasting time: a starting point is noticing how it happens.

In depth · 3 min read

Gossypium hirsutum reveals a surprising connection: its familiar fibre grows on seeds inside a fruit that eventually opens.

In depth · 2 min read

A platypus closes its eyes while searching underwater: its bill gathers electrical and mechanical information about the small animals it eats.

In depth · 2 min read

The Italian word nostalgia brings together roots linked to return and pain; its use can reach across places and times.

In depth · 2 min read

Baking powder contains ingredients that react to produce gas: understanding how it differs from baking soda helps us read a recipe.

In depth · 2 min read

On La Gomera in the Canary Islands, a communication practice turns Spanish speech sounds into whistles and is also passed on at school.

Original writing and illustrations made with AI assistance. Each discovery includes its sources. Our editorial method