7 THINGS WORTH KNOWING / 12 November 2026

Little Discoveries

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

Louise Brigham: a packing crate gets another life

In depth · 3 min read

In 1909 Louise Brigham published furniture made from discarded packing crates, beginning the design process with materials already available.

In depth · 3 min read

A passage from 1767 separates individual intentions from collective outcomes, without promising that whatever emerges spontaneously must be good.

In depth · 3 min read

This small South African succulent carries white bumps on its leaves: identification depends less on the pattern than its location.

In depth · 3 min read

A stationary spoon can draw spirals: honey slowing at its landing point reveals a small instability studied in fluid physics.

In depth · 3 min read

From Latin siparium to the figurative end of an episode, a theatre curtain becomes language for beginnings and endings.

In depth · 3 min read

Brussels sprouts are side buds on a tall plant: along its stalk, each little head marks the position of a leaf.

In depth · 3 min read

In Jamdani weaving, patterns inserted on the loom connect material skill with personal stories: a tradition also lives through its wearers.

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