7 THINGS WORTH KNOWING / 28 October 2026

Little Discoveries

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

AI editorial illustration inspired by Hans J. Wegner’s CH24: a wooden chair with a Y-shaped back and woven seat, without branding. — Positive Times · ImageGen · AI-assisted illustration

Hans J. Wegner: the Y that helps hold a chair together

In depth · 3 min read

The Wishbone Chair connects a memorable shape with construction and the human body, revealing skilled work behind an apparently simple object.

Read the full story

02Philosophy

AI editorial illustration of two stylised adults listening to each other, with a pair of shoes in a thought bubble: a metaphor for imagining another person’s situation, not a portrait of Adam Smith. — Positive Times · ImageGen · AI-assisted illustration

Adam Smith: imagining is not mind-reading

In depth · 3 min read

Smith’s account of sympathy begins with imagination: approaching another person’s situation requires attention without pretending to know it from inside.

Read the full story

03Plants

AI editorial illustration of a potted Goeppertia orbifolia with large rounded leaves and broad silvery-green stripes. — Positive Times · ImageGen · AI-assisted illustration

Goeppertia orbifolia: two names on one plant label

In depth · 3 min read

Large striped leaves introduce a small botanical lesson: an updated scientific name does not turn the same species into another plant.

Read the full story

04Curiosities

AI editorial illustration of a pencil beside a piece of graphite shown schematically in layers, against an ivory background. — Positive Times · ImageGen · AI-assisted illustration

What do you leave on paper when you write with a pencil?

In depth · 3 min read

An ordinary mark connects graphite to a structure made of layers: the surprise lies inside the material, not the drawing.

Read the full story

05Words

AI editorial illustration of an overturned cup and a symbolic star: a metaphor for the Italian word disastro, without suggesting causation. — Positive Times · ImageGen · AI-assisted illustration

Disastro: the star still inside an Italian word

In depth · 3 min read

The Italian word disastro contains astro, but a word’s history does not show that the sky causes our misfortunes.

Read the full story

06Food

AI editorial illustration about Piper nigrum fruits and three bowls of black, white and green peppercorns, with simple forms against an ivory background. — Positive Times · ImageGen · AI-assisted illustration

Black and white pepper: two journeys for the same fruit

In depth · 3 min read

Black and white pepper need not come from different plants: ripeness and processing change the appearance of Piper nigrum fruit.

Read the full story

07Cultures & peoples

AI editorial illustration of a person on a draft horse in Oostduinkerke’s shallow waters; breastcollar and traces pull a net behind the horse, leaving its tail free. — Positive Times · ImageGen · AI-assisted illustration

Oostduinkerke: the horse that helps catch shrimp

In depth · 3 min read

On Belgium’s coast, a local practice combines tides, nets and trust in horses: its most important knowledge cannot fit into a photograph.

Read the full story

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