7 THINGS WORTH KNOWING / 10 November 2026

Little Discoveries

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

Alexander Girard: a room begins with fabric

In depth · 3 min read

For Alexander Girard, colour and pattern helped shape a room: textiles took part in the design beyond simply covering furniture.

In depth · 3 min read

In The Consolation of Philosophy, Boethius questions changing fortune: an ancient inquiry separates what we possess from the value we assign it.

In depth · 3 min read

Small tubers can appear among the heart-shaped leaves of Ceropegia woodii: a closer look at its nodes reveals another way to propagate.

In depth · 3 min read

Alternating pages can resist a pull without glue: their geometry converts some tension into pressure and amplifies friction between sheets.

In depth · 3 min read

From medieval Latin telarium, derived from tela, the Italian word telaio connects weaving with structures that support other parts.

In depth · 3 min read

Florence fennel holds a small botanical surprise: its white edible swelling is formed by enlarged, overlapping leaf bases.

In depth · 3 min read

The Kyrgyz white-felt hat tells a story of living craft: preserving its shape also means passing on skills, knowledge and respect.

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