Topic

Culture & Design

A collection of 6 issues

How the Alphabet Split a Saint's Name in Two

The English 'John' and the Slavic 'Ivan' feel worlds apart, yet they are two branches of the same ancient Hebrew name. Their startling divergence isn't one of meaning, but of alphabets, tracing back to the moment Greek 'Ioannes' met the Latin and Cyrillic scripts.

History Linguistics & Communication Culture & Design

How the Square Pixel Conquered Your Screen

Our digital world is built on a grid, and the square is the most efficient shape to tile it. This simple geometric decision, born from computational necessity, makes everything from rendering video games to manufacturing the phone in your hand possible.

Technology & Innovation Inventions & Discoveries Culture & Design

When the Sun Stands Still: The Surprisingly Modern Story of Lāhainā Noon

Twice a year, the sun passes directly over Hawaii, causing vertical objects to cast no shadow. This surreal event, known as Lāhainā Noon, has an origin story as surprising as the phenomenon itself, born from a public contest that reconnected science with culture.

Science & Nature Culture & Design Space & Astronomy

America's Kitchen Confidante Was a Corporate Ghost

For over a century, Betty Crocker has been a household name, but she was never a real person. She was a marketing invention whose signature, voice, and ever-changing face were meticulously crafted to mirror the evolving ideal of the American woman.

History Business & Economics Culture & Design

Before Carpets: The Lost Art and Utility of the Sanded Floor

Before woven rugs became common, 17th and 18th-century households covered bare wood floors with sand. This practice was both functional and decorative. The sand absorbed spills and grime, and homeowners created intricate, temporary patterns in it with brooms.

History Culture & Design Oddities & Curiosities

The Great Swedish Church Migration: An Engineering Marvel as Slow TV

To escape an expanding iron ore mine, the Swedish town of Kiruna is moving its iconic 1912 church whole. The 600-tonne wooden structure's slow, multi-day journey is a marvel of engineering and a key part of one of history's most ambitious urban relocations.

Technology & Innovation Culture & Design Geography & Places

Loading more posts...