7 THINGS WORTH KNOWING / 10 October 2026

Little Discoveries

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

Josef Albers: colour has neighbours

In depth · 3 min read

A square is never viewed entirely alone: Albers’s exercises reveal how much its surroundings contribute to what we think we see.

In depth · 3 min read

Knowing only one side of a question can weaken even our good reasons: Mill asks for a more demanding conversation.

In depth · 3 min read

It looks like a simple green clump, but the cast-iron plant builds its shape through a hidden stem and remarkably patient growth.

In depth · 3 min read

Before the four wings comes an aquatic life: metamorphosis connects two habitats we often look at separately.

In depth · 3 min read

Treccani traces the Italian verb to sidus, “star”. Its present use asks us to examine things, rather than consult a horoscope.

In depth · 3 min read

The Maillard reaction helps explain the colour and aroma of toast. Its name is singular, but the chemistry involves a family of changes.

In depth · 3 min read

Leather figures, rods, light and voice: Javanese shadow theatre becomes richer when we notice the work that creates the image.

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