Have you noticed things looking a little paler lately? Across brands, architecture, fashion, and interior design, creams, whites, and greys have crept into common use. But what are the causes and consequences of our chromophobia?

Spotted by one of our Curious team this week, the Acton Giant is the tallest mural in London. Peering over rooftops, he reminds London’s children (and adults, too!) that they should brush their teeth at least three times a day.

When asked by software developer Daniel Tait to “invent a logic puzzle similar to Sudoku” – after only a little bit of back and forth – ChatGPT invented Sumplete. We’re impressed and slightly scared.

On Tuesday (the 28th of March), stargazers will see Jupiter, Mercury, Uranus, Mars, and Venus all in a line. If all the rain has finally passed, they might even be visible without the aid of the telescope.

Have you noticed that all the heroes in action films have J names? James Bond. Jason Borne. Jack Reacher. What is it about these names that makes them prevalent among film protagonists? There are plenty of theories.

The best use of AI we’ve seen so far is Readow. Tell it the titles of all the books you’ve loved, and Readow will give you a personalised list of what to read next. What are you waiting for?

The word whizzes at Dictionary.com always have their ears to the ground, listening for new phrases that have entered the common vernacular. Recent additions to their dictionary include Cakeage, Nearlywed, and Antifragile – but what on earth do they mean?

In the last hundred years, we humans have had a bit of a growth spurt. Globally, we shot up 3 inches – and some countries saw average heights soar by an impressive 8 inches. Have we all been eating our greens, or is something else at play here?

It’s no secret: at Curious, we find animal pictures endlessly fascinating – we love the glimpse into the natural world photography can give us. Our latest fix comes from the World Nature Photography Awards – they’re an eclectic mix of humorous, intimate, and heartbreaking.

When you arrive at a ski resort, you expect to see freshly fallen powder waiting for you on the mountainside. Not grass! But this season, it’s been the reality for many visitors to The Alps. So, what’s the solution? Alternative activities, fake snow, or a shift in ski locations? Could it be the future of snow is up in the air?

Free! Not having to pay! Something for nothing! It’s sooooooo free-ing to find a website that gives you movies, or books, or online courses without expecting you to dip into your digital wallet. Bit like Shareables. More free brain nourishment is as easy as clicking this:

Scientists in Australia believe their coral wreaths may still be saved – if only they could speed up the rate they propagate and deploy new coral. Enter robots. Two mechanical arms are currently undergoing training in LA, ready to get to work revitalising coastlines worldwide.

Calvin Nicholl’s carefully cut paper sculptures seem to be breaking free of their frames. With scalpels, scissors, and glue, Nicholls builds up feathers and fur, until wild creatures emerge. His work is so complex, it can take two years to complete a piece.

A whole host of weird and wonderful things have been captured on Google Street View, from people caught unaware to breathtakingly beautiful nature and bizarre architecture. Click below for some of the greatest hits.

We’re all guilty of optimistically popping any empty packaging in the recycling – you can recycle anything these days, right? Not according to the Guardian. Luckily they’ve made a guide to tell us all what’s what with recycling.

You’re not the only one. Though they coveted concentration, even medieval monks sometimes had issues focusing. To keep their minds on track, they developed several methods to encourage singlemindedness.

It takes something extraordinary to shock a well-seasoned tube traveller. But Matthew Grabelsky’s portraits would give anyone pause for thought. The LA-based artist imagines human-animal hybrids sedately sitting on public transport.

A big curious question. Dreaming of losing your teeth, missing an exam or leaving the house starkers – do these reveal deep psychological truths about us, or are they completely random? Scientists and philosophers can’t agree. But maybe Artificial Intelligence can tell us what our dreams mean.

San Antonio zoo’s annual anti-Valentine’s fundraiser is back. Patrons have the honour of naming a cockroach, rodent or vegetable after a not-so-special someone. Or upgrade for a video of your cockroach being fed to one of the animals.

The 18th century might have been the most bonkers time for hair. Wigs reached dizzying heights as ladies outdid each other’s dos, and anything, even model ships, became accessories. How would you have done yours?

When The Girl with a Pearl Earring goes on tour next month, Mauritshuis Museum, where she usually lives, won’t leave her spot empty. Instead, they’ve commissioned the public to submit interpretations to display in her place.

Known unknowns are a curious concept. There are hundreds of scientific, academic, and philosophical questions we just don’t have a satisfactory answer for. They’re fun to ponder but impossible to solve. Here are some to try and wrap your head around.

Eat, pray, love. Win friends & influence people. Think fast and slow. When it comes to self-help, the overload of advice can be overwhelming. Thankfully, hundreds of bestsellers have been distilled into this one handy guide. Now there’s no excuse to not be the best version of yourself.

Though we grumble about packed carriages, sweltering summer temperatures and last-minute cancellations, the tube holds a special place in London’s psyche. From steam power, smoking carriages, and injury-inducing brake power, it’s come a long way over its 160 years.

Chinese New Year began on Sunday, and the festivities will continue until the 5th of February. Why not celebrate by trying some of the diverse Chinese cuisine available throughout London. Here’s The Modern House’s definitive guide.

When we want to convince others to adopt new ideas, we tend to focus on all the shiny good things. What we forget is to make change work, we need to remove the barriers to change, not just make it sound attractive.

Matt Stevens has been busy imagining films as classic book covers for the last two years. He’s built up quite the repertoire. From modern hits like Midsommer to cult classics like Before Sunrise and all-time favourites like Back To The Future – all are incredible.

We all need someone in our corner when we’re in a pinch. For the planet, that person is ClientEarth, a team of lawyers who challenge companies and governments on their environmental records.

Derek. Mary. Gustavo. Nora. Are they your pals or your pets? The trend of giving puppies people names has really taken off over recent years. Thanks to the Washington Post, you can now check if your name is more popular amongst dogs or humans.

If you’ve not already picked a new year’s resolution, may we be as bold as to suggest you be a little kinder? We’re not trying to say you’re a horrible person (we’re sure you’re lovely), but little acts go a long way. Here are several suggestions for where to start.

If you have time between turkey servings, why not visit The Museum of Architecture’s Gingerbread City? Over 100 architects, engineers and designers have baked a whole world out of delicious biscuits – no wicked witches were involved.

To stay sharp as a tack over the holidays, challenge yourself with GCHQ’s fiendish puzzles. If you get them all right, you might have a calling in the intelligence industry.

Our story begins in 1900-ish: tasked with making a lightbulb bright enough for surgical theatres, Erwin Perzy accidentally invents a snow globe instead. Fast forward one hundred years and his great-granddaughter is selling his mistake internationally.

Etch a Sketches, Pet Rocks or Cabbage Patch Kids – which toys fill you with nostalgia for your childhood Christmases? Stacker has put together a list of the most popular toys from 1900 to now.

These days Christmas starts in mid-October – that’s a lot of time to spend listening to the same ten songs. Never fear. We’re here to help. We’ve put together a list of alternative hits. It’s our Christmas gift to you and your ears.

If you’re stuck on what to buy particularly tricky *insert family/friend colleague as appropriate* – it might be time to take a step back and try a new approach. You only need to tick one of three boxes to be considered a thoughtful gift giver.

We’ve been told sometimes you have to be nasty to be nice. But psychology suggests we might have it the wrong way around. Changing how you approach an argument can lead to better results.

The rainbow lines stretching out across your screen are hundreds and hundreds of trees in Kern County, California, captured from above by Mitch Rouse. The precision planting makes the part of our brain that loves straight lines very happy.

The team at Storekit have done a lot of leg work, calling, and visiting the pub closest to every stop on the tube line all to identify their cheapest pint and put them in a handy guide. We thank them very much for their service.

We’re deep into the annual round-up season (shoutout to you, Spotify Wrapped). Pantone, eager beavers as they are, are looking ahead, not back, and have already revealed their colour of 2023.

When cinema was first introduced, it was considered an art form. But for many (us included), it’s become a way to unwind and switch off, with familiar tropes and plotlines guiding us into unthinking. This guide has everything you need to shake you out of your film funk.

From the very first Football World Cup in 1930, there have been questionable going-ons. That year the Egyptian team missed their boat, one player lost their lip, and a manager accidentally knocked themself unconscious. Not a great start.

It’s officially indoor weather – but that doesn’t mean you have to hunker down at home. Secret London has put together an excellent guide to the best exhibitions you can see right now. Don’t miss Strange Clay, Africa Fashion and many more.

Alliances, arguments, and audacious bids for power: European countries have long and complicated histories. Get an overview of their relationships from 1500 to now in this handy video. Set to some rousing classical music, it makes for a bizarre yet educational watch.

Grey days and plenty of rain have defined our weather recently. But, to see happier skies, you need only head to Instagram. There you can delight your eyes with Chris Judge’s wonderous cloud art.

This recoloured and sound-added video will transport you straight into the central London of the 1930s. The visuals are so vivid you’ll feel like you’re there. Which locations do you recognize?

Nowadays, we consume a great deal of our culture in snippets. A clip, a soundbite, a headline. But rarely do we sit and absorb content in its long form. Does viewing a fragment removed from its context mean we’re limiting our understanding?

Generating new, creative, or novel ideas can be beyond frustrating. When nothing you think of seems good enough, you might need to let everything out. From there, you might strike gold.

We don’t know why people develop unique hobbies – but we’re glad they do! Ard Gelinck spends his spare time creating images of celebrities with their former selves. Looking at how they’ve aged is endlessly fascinating.

Going paperless may seem like the eco answer. Think of all the trees we’d save. Alas. Nothing in life is ever that simple. Even online, everything we do creates waste. Unread emails, video wormholes and endless upgrades – all of them have a price.

Now and then, we’ve all made a faux pas, but it’s comforting that ours weren’t broadcast live on air. Enjoy some pure schadenfreude with this montage of when it all went wrong for these BBC presenters.

If you don’t get out of London much and you miss green spaces bigger than Hampstead Heath, this is for you. Tree FM plays sounds of woods and forests recorded all other the world whilst you look at stunning shots of nature. It’s like you’re really there.

When astronauts make their return to the moon in 2025, they’ll need a safe spot to park their spaceship. Their chosen method to map out such a place will rely on shadows. Using shade to create 3D models of their destination.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – no, not Christmas (though it’s getting closer). The comedy wildlife photo finalists were released last week. Our favourites include a friendly raccoon, a penguin with serious attitude and a real-life Pegasus.

Stay ahead of the carve with a whole ghost of clever carving tips, techniques and inspiration and make your neighbours faint with envy. “Dear gourd”, they’ll say, “next door is creeping it real”.

Last weekend it was small business Saturday. But (and we’re not just saying this because we forgot) don’t limit your support to one day. There are brilliant and creative stores all over the UK that will always appreciate your business.

Go to Yale, get a hunting license, and ask your mother to take in borders. All feature on a 1958 edition of McCall’s Magazines list of ways to get a husband. Some have aged better than others.

Here’s another portion of awe for you. Artist Parth Kothekar has been making amazingly intricate papercuts using the maths behind M.C. Escher’s optical illusions. His excellent command of depth and scale makes the designs literally stand out.

Speaking of awe, why not get your daily dose with this timelapse of a Eurasian blue tit nesting and hatching her eggs. Watching the chicks open their beaks and beg for food is guaranteed to mesmerize.

Admiration. Wonder. Astonishment. Experiencing awe gives us all the good feelings. And science says, on top of improving our well-being, feeling awe actually makes us nicer people. Sounds pretty great. Here are ten ways you can get regularly awed up.

Arguments don’t have to end with a feeling of listlessness and frustration. A change in approach may make it possible to have more constructive debates. All it takes is understanding that winning may not be everything. Should be easy. Right?

How much sunlight does it take to make a glass of orange juice? More than you think. By showing the amount needed for even a tiny task, Cream on Chrome hope to provoke a discussion about the possibilities and limitations of solar power. Juicy stuff.

Past and present meet in a National Geographic photography series that uses modern photographic techniques to show World War Two activity against modern-day back drops.

Quaint and old-fashioned? Not anymore – Ant Hamlyn has bought flower pressing into the present. The playful pieces are sewn by Ant by hand, using materials to create a sense of tactility and physicality.

Using drones, we can see the world from a whole new angle – above. See the best of a seriously impressive bunch of shots from above in this year’s Drone Photo Awards. Waterlily harvesting, lava filled volcanos and baby blue whales are all included.

We found ourselves curious to know more about Her Majesty the Queen’s historic, 70-year reign. Here are some key moments from a truly remarkable life.

Jealously scrolling through friends’ carefully curated holiday snaps, we might forget that we’re not seeing the complete picture. In her new photography series, Natacha de Mahieu explores the reality of Insta-tourism.

The people map of the UK replaces all the cities, towns and villages with their most famous resident – past or present (but not future, it’s not that clever). Curious to know your most famous neighbour?

It’s a big problem on set when microphones pick up more noise from the props than the actors. To minimize disruption, the props team think up crazy and creative ways to make silent versions of real-life products.

With the cost of living set to grow and grow, everyone is looking for ways to be smarter with their pennies. This wonderful website is full of creative ways to cook for less without having to resort to instant noodles and beans on toast.

From Poland Street to Floral Street to Shelton Street to Dean Street, only a mile radius but we’ve come so far. We’re proud to mark this milestone. Our achievements, our brave clients, our talented people. Doing great work means a lot to us. We’ve put it all in a video.

We would happily shout about our love of TED-Ed from our studio rooftop (if we could figure out how to get up there). Like us, TED love to ask curious, impossible, fascinating questions. Here are some of their best so far.

The mysterious Chirodectes maculatus is a slippery fellow. First sighted in 1997, it wasn’t until this year it was finally caught on camera off the coast of Papua New Guinea. Now you can watch its distinctive pattern swim across your screen.

“I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it”. Sure, Shakespeare wasn’t talking about Bankside, but it’s somewhere you can waste many hours – including exploring the new Shakespeare art trail that weaves its way through the neighbourhood.

Sitting on a cross-country train, we’re drawn to the window, glancing at the trees, mountains, fields, and valleys racing past us. Interrail can provide the perfect soundtrack to these moments of calm with playlists that adapt to the weather, time, and location.

When we present our work to clients, we like to show it in its best light. Naturally. But these mockups, or ‘Fockups’ as designer Wytze Hoogslag has christened them, might be a little more true to how they’ll be seen in the wild.

The waving cat, or maneki-neko, is a well-recognised symbol with several intriguing origin stories, all taking place in Japan, not China as commonly thought. Though, one thing’s the same in every tale, they always bring luck.

Airbnb’s lovely new UI (that’s User Interface to you and me) lets us choose our holidays based on the type of stay rather than dates and locations. Lakefront, tiny homes, beachfront – even caves are an option. See what’s available.

After 56 years, the hurt was over last weekend as England’s Women secured a 2-1 defeat of Germany to win the 2022 European Championship. Why not celebrate by immersing further in the world of football and discover how design has pushed it to new limits.

Combining birds with pineapples and fish with flowers, artist Beto Val has turned vintage illustrations into bizarre compositions. Using digital manipulations to alter original sketches, he has created a whole cast of whimsical characters.

Without taking a sneaky peak – can you think of the difference between a phone’s keypad and a calculator’s? Considering their similar functions, it’s strange there’s any difference at all.

With attention spans shorter than 30 seconds, it’s unlikely that anyone is reading more than a tiny fraction of your writing. Journalist Jim VandeHei shares his hard-won advice on how to communicate more effectively.

When was the last time you checked in on a friend ‘just because’? Recent research suggests that we almost always underestimate how much our friends appreciate being checked in on.

When a farm in Oregon accidentally put on the world’s first goat yoga class, they couldn’t have predicted its coming popularity. Relaxing animal therapy really appealed to their customers, but what do the goats think?

Now that we’re back to a cool twentysomething degrees, it’s time to take advantage of the best outdoor eating available in London. Here’s a guide to the best pop-up street seating, secret gardens, and shady terraces in the city.

The first-ever images from the James Webb Telescope have been revealed. Launched in December, it’s the largest and most powerful telescope ever developed, with the ability to see deeper into the cosmos than ever before.

The Soho section of last weekend’s Pride celebrations took place right outside our quirky Dean Street studio – and, with our design heads on, we wondered how the Pride flag came to be and how it has evolved.

We can’t get enough of tiny things. Our latest find is a miniature menagerie from Hungarian artist Fanni Sandor. She sculpts biologically accurate models of animals so small they fit in the palm of your hand.

The Guardian has reading suggestions for every genre of book lover. From fans of true crime to murder mysteries (or false crime – if you will), there’s something for everyone on their list.

If you’re an adrenaline junky, you might already know that the loop-the-loops on modern roller coasters aren’t perfect circles – and for a good reason! The original circular designs put more G-force on their riders than astronauts experience.

Time Out has printed its last ever physical issue. To celebrate (rather than commiserate), art director Bryan Mayes commissioned four memorable covers on the theme London Rising to celebrate the talent and culture that make up London and Time Out.

Curious about other people’s interests? This website will show you the most Googled questions on any topic: giving insights on the kind of queries we’d only ever ask our computers.

Creating a tune catchy enough to grab the attention of TikTok can catapult you to overnight fame. But what then? Vox and The Pudding have teamed up to investigate what happens to TikTok musicians after they go viral.

Travel gurus Lonely Planet are here to help us with travel inspiration. Their experts have shortlisted the countries, cities, and regions that should be on your list for 2022. If you can get on a plane, that is!

Shawn Anchor thinks we have it backwards. Instead of working hard to be successful – and then happy – we should be positive in the present. A sunny approach to life will make us more productive and ultimately more successful. Simple.

Search engine Ecosia is planting trees all over the world. They use the profit they make from adverts to bring greenery where it’s needed most. They’ve just reached their 150 millionth tree!

Things are starting to get real in the world of design. Visual culture is more detailed, tactile, and textured than ever. It’s Nice That has done a deep dive into which trends we’ll soon be seeing everywhere.

Marine Biologist Sylvia Earle wants the world to know the importance of the ocean. It governs climate and weather, holds 97% of the water, generates more than half of the oxygen in the atmosphere and provides a home for most of life on Earth. In short: no blue, no green.

Anyone with a to-do list as long as their arm – pay close attention – your life is about to change. The GTD (Getting Things Done) framework makes organizing tasks and projects second nature.

Isabel Reitemeyer is known for her uncanny collages, splicing images of animals together in unlikely combinations. And, with a beady eye, or the slight cock of a head, the personalities of her franken-creatures shine through.

In her 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth has seen a lot of change: from the first man on the moon and colour TV to private space travel and virtual reality. See just how much the world has changed with this interactive guide.

The Crochet Coral Reef was started by sisters Christine and Margaret Wertheim in response to the environmental issues putting pressure on coral reefs. New patterns, materials, and designs mean, like natural coral reefs, the crochet version is constantly evolving.

Employees at Asana conducted an experiment. After deleting all the meetings in their calendar, they waited two days before putting any back. And, when they did, there were fewer of them; they were less frequent and much shorter.

If you’re curious about what you’d need to do to make it onto a banknote, check out The Pudding’s latest interactive essay about the famous figures who represent currencies around the world.

The Guardian’s list of ways to be happier has something for everyone. Suggestions range from perfecting your front crawl and buying proper bin shoes to inventing new cocktails. A day of country music got mixed reviews from the Curious team.

There are times at work when all of us have held our tongues. But no more! This guide rephrases your internal dialogue into office-appropriate work speak: giving you a professional way to say what’s on your mind.

Only a short tube ride away is an outstanding array of forests and woodland. Surrounded by lakes, rivers, and plenty of wildlife: a walk in the woods is the perfect way to help you forget the stresses of the city.

Carbon-catching cow muzzles and airborne seed dispersers are two winners of The Terra Carta Design Lab. These ‘high-impact, low-cost solutions for the climate crisis’ will receive funding and support to take them from prototypes to real-life responses.

Is there anything worse than going for a hug when the person you’re meeting has opted for a handshake? Conventions for greeting others have developed over several decades but changing social situations have meant new ways of welcoming have crept into common use.

Using real-life objects as inspiration means Bernie Kaminski often makes paper mâché models of the objects lying around his apartment. Self-taught and constantly improving, Bernie creates his art to make himself (and others) happy.

If your mind is prone to wander or your concentration span is shorter than a split second, an anti-procrastination café is what you need. For 300 Yen an hour, owner Takuya Kawai will keep you on track.

Almost everyone agrees trees are excellent for the environment. Their carbon-capturing abilities are essential for the planet. Now scientists are wondering if they can design them better.

Inclusive design creates experiences and products that everyone can experience – no matter their background. Cards for Humanity is an interactive tool that encourages designers to consider accessibility as they work.

Known only as AnonyMouse, an unidentified group of artists have infiltrated European towns and cities, installing miniature models for mice into unassuming streets. Their latest target: Malmö.

The abilities of phone cameras are revealed in the winning shots from Apple’s latest photography competition. All shot on iPhone 13 Pros, the images capture details that would escape the most eagle-eyed amongst us.

We can develop complex and intimate connections with our belongings, even going as far as to give them names and personalities. But why do we do it? And how does it affect our relationships with them?

Thinking in colour is a quiz that examines how black and white your thinking is. Measuring empathy, open-mindedness, flexibility, and intellectual curiosity; it creates a visual representation of what colours your mind.

Cheaper technology, a fall in trust in governments, and a rising number of environmental crises mean that more and more people are beginning to take environmental research into their own hands.

For a brief few years after the Second World War, steel houses represented the future. Made in a factory in Lustron, Ohio, they could be shipped and assembled anywhere in the US. So, why didn’t houses with magnetic walls catch on?

Being creative with our clothes is one way we can care for the planet. Upcycling, visible mending, and organising give our wardrobes longer lives. Buying less will reduce our environmental impact.

Eiko Ojala has become the illustrator of choice for magazines and newspapers, including the Guardian and New York Times. With his distinctive cut out style, he creates simple yet striking statements.

In 1961 a Goya masterpiece vanished from the National Gallery in London. Security saw no intruders. No damage was done. And no trace was left. The thief must have been a criminal mastermind. At least that was the theory.

The way we write can create barriers to who can read it. Plain language, a style of writing that uses straightforward sentences, language, and structure, aims to make text more accessible. Or, put simply. Plain language makes writing easy to read for more people.

Miniature art has become a social media fixation. But, at a new exhibition in Brompton, you can see your favourite artists in real life. Doors open 15th of April. Don’t forget your magnifying glass!

Numerous and noisy: pigeons have been described as the “rats of the sky”. Now one of the most populous species on the planet, their rise to domination was helped by us.

Europe’s hills and mountains are home to some stunning scenery only accessible by foot. Brave the blisters, heavy bags and early mornings and you’ll be rewarded with a new appreciation of the great outdoors.

It’s Nice That is curating a list of resources in support of Ukraine. Links to petitions, charities to support, locations of donation points and ways to counteract propaganda are all included.

It’s too soon to speculate how the war will end. But it will certainly have implications for many years to come. Historian Yuval Noah Harari believes there are already lessons to learn from the conflict.

Art in any form becomes even more meaningful during war. Katerina Korolevsta and fellow Ukrainian designers are using their talent to share with the world what is happening around them.

The proliferation of information sources means news comes at us from every angle. For a concise account of events, the BBC’s Ukrainecast provides daily updates.

Ukraine has struggled to maintain its independence since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. In recent years, attempts to curtail Russian domination have resulted in the loss of life and territory. Now, Ukraine finds itself at war.

We have Eunice and Franklin to thank for London’s recent bout of rotten weather. Though it can be tempting to curl up and power down when the rain starts – unless there’s a literal storm – London still has plenty to offer those wanting to explore.

Yvette Mayorga’s latest work is full of nostalgia. At first glance, her super sweet rendition of the Polly Pocket mansion is an uncomplicated ode to a 90s childhood. A deeper look reveals a rich critique of excess and overconsumption delicately iced into her surrealist masterpiece.

‘May be an image of one person and a strawberry’ is an alt text description for the Mona Lisa. Picked up by screen readers, alt text is an invaluable tool for any user who’s blind or has low vision. When alt text is missing or mislabelled, web pages can be inaccessible for these users.

In linguistics, the rule of arbitrariness states there’s no natural or necessary connection between a word’s meaning and its sound or form. A cat is a cat simply because we decided so. But new research suggests that’s not the case.

Energy, creativity, and passion poured out of Maria Bradford when we worked on her brand back in 2020. Her determination, and some out of this world recipes, meant we weren’t surprised to see her pop up on the Observer’s latest list of things they love in the world of food.

The only photo of Vincent Van Gogh shows a young 19-year-old, far from the figure he would become. And paintings by his contemporaries depict him as many kinds of men. But, most revealing perhaps are his self-portraits. See them on display at the Courtauld Gallery until the 8th of May.

Bees have been nesting in crumbling bricks and mortar for hundreds of years. But, the bricks of new builds are too perfect to be suitable habitats. To rectify this, Brighton Council has passed legislation that requires new buildings to include special bee bricks for lone bees to nest in.

The architect, Sir Peter Cook, is (self-professed) not a natural drawer. Yet, since he developed an interest in architecture as a child, he’s designed by hand. His determination to creatively express ideas spurred him on throughout his illustrious career.

Westminster Abbey should surely have known better than to trust Twitter with a naming project. With questionable puns, political commentary, and ‘Tony’ all in contention, their gargoyle is destined to end up with a unique name. #DowntoungueAbbeyForTheWin

In the shadows of everyday objects, Vincent Bal creates whimsical scenes. Using simple sketching, he inserts wit and humour. Scissors become an angry crocodile, headphones transform into a downcast dog, and a pair of glasses frames a befuddled reader.

Picture the scene. It’s very late, or very, very early. You’ve been dancing all night, and you’re on top of the world. The DJ plays one final track, and that song comes to defines your memory. But, how do they know which song will perfectly fit the moment?

Former baker Yukiko Morita has found a way of combining her love of bread with her art – rescuing unsold bread and pastries from local bakeries and transforming them into lamps. Her novel approach is proving popular.

Mixed up in pickle jars or stuck in spiders’ webs, Victorian ladies spent time inserting pictures of friends and family into delightful and weird scenes. Full of visual puns and inside jokes, they were a way to send coded messages to a secret beau.

Stuck in a dreary British winter, a spot of sun sounds like a wonderful thing. But, for the Great Barrier Reef, too much light does more harm than good. To reduce coral bleaching, scientists have looked to the clouds for a way to power down the sun.

In 2022 it’s hard not to be available. Emails and alerts can find us at any time, wherever we are. And, if we don’t reply instantly, we feel the need to apologise and explain. But, when ‘Sorry for my late reply’ feels insincere, what alternatives are out there?

Drop a raindrop anywhere in the world, and River Runner’s interactive map will transport you through the rivers, streams and mountains it travels along on its route towards the ocean. It’s incredible how far one drop flows.

The creation of eccentric inventor Frederick Walton and long out of popular fashion, linoleum is staging a comeback. Eco-friendly and technically edible(!), the material has found favour with a new generation of interior designers.

Big resolutions can be daunting. So, if you’re not ready to run a marathon, cut out sugar or delete your social media, why not start smaller? These mini modifications can make a big difference.

However you plan to travel; soaking up culture or sunbeams, 2022 is a year for exploration. Get off the beaten track and try craft beer in Oregon, visit The Devil’s Museum in Kaunas or dive through the kelp forests off Stewart Island.

Big, bold and retro, It’s Nice That has rounded up its predictions of the design trends set to shape 2022. From 90s nostalgia to 3D art, they unpack what we’ll be seeing more of over the next 12 months.

Joes Miguel Sokoloff is one of the people responsible for a very unusual marketing campaign. Using creativity, welcoming words, and some well-placed Christmas lights, he helped thousands of guerrillas come home.

Mince pies. Turkey. Gingerbread houses. Pigs in blankets. Some foods are Christmas staples. Or maybe not. Recent research reveals several festive favourites might not be favourites after all.

Looking back at a year’s worth of ads, we’re reminded of all the twists this year took (cough *Covid* cough). But, in the face of uncertain times, the creativity and innovation of these brands put smiles on our faces.

Some children won’t get presents this year. Not because they’re on the naughty list. You can be a Secret Santa for vulnerable children and bring them food, warmth, and happiness this Christmas.

For the first time, Pantone has created a new shade for its annual colour pick. The periwinkle blue, with violet-red undertones, represents how colour trends in the digital and physical world influence each other.

Taking a cheeky power nap might sound very tempting after a less than perfect night’s sleep, but it might do more harm than good. Sleep scientist Matt Walker shares the pros and cons of an afternoon siesta.

With Typatone, anyone can be a composer. Type anything into their website and listen to it magically transform into a myriad of musical styles. We’ve had lots of fun thinking about what Shareables might sound like.

Only a tiny 1% of the Smithsonian’s collection is on display across their 20 museums and galleries. That leaves a whole host of treasures tucked away in high-security storage. Want to know what they’re hiding?

Wired are speaking our language. Curious podcasts – yes, please! From true crime and chat shows to Dolly Parton documentaries, podcasts soundtrack our day. And we’re always on the lookout for our next listen.

Ruby Silvious doesn’t let her teabags go to waste. They go from a morning brew to a blank canvas as they become the backdrop of her miniature paintings. It’s incredible how much detail fits on one tiny teabag.

That science is still a way off! But, living to 100 – increasingly probable. And staying healthy for as long as possible is key. Here’s what you need to do to get your birthday letter from the Queen.

Eric Kogan has an unprecedented ability to find humour in his surroundings – spotting quirky coincidences as he walks around the streets of New York City. He’s curated a whole archive of unexpected images.

Every year Café Art hands out 100 single-use cameras to people affected by homelessness then gives them seven days to photograph their city. The diverse people, wildlife, and landmarks they capture make up a Calendar of London.

Applying for any job – even a dream job – is a minefield. But of all the unpleasant elements, the cover letter is the worst. How formal should you be? How enthusiastic? And, how honest? In this essay, Rob Alderson shares our pain.

Prescribing genders to type can be traced back to 1940s America, where retailers used fonts as gender signifiers for their kid’s products. Gendering and personalisation improved their sales – but, long term, has this done more harm than good?

That feeling when you walk into a bookshop – nothing beats it. The quiet calm. The smell of books, new and old. And, best of all, the thousands of worlds waiting to be explored. Here are some of the best in the world.

From the outside, the Skirvin Hotel looks normal. Pretty, even. But, book a room, and its true spirit is revealed. Guests report unexplained creaks, groans and ghostly apparitions. Are you brave enough to spend a night?

More than 800,000 fireworks were set off in the largest ever fireworks display, which lasted for over an hour. Whilst we can’t promise any of the events on this list will break that record, they’re rumoured to be the best in the country.

Wes Anderson’s films have a distinctive feel: full of pastel colours, symmetrical designs and more than a slight nostalgia for retro design. If they’re your cup of tea, why not visit these real-life locations that perfectly capture his aesthetic.

Now in its third year, the Close-Up Photographer of the year contest receives all kinds of incredible entries. From salamander silhouettes to ants eating, the images give a glimpse into the delicate details of the natural world.

It’s spider season! As the weather turns colder, spiders, like us, want to be warm and cosy in our houses. But, whilst all uninvited guests are a nuisance, what is it about spiders that mean they’re likely to meet an untimely end?

Too much to see. Too much to do. So much time is taken up doing tedious (but necessary) tasks – they eat into the time we could be rollercoaster riding/dolphin watching/rainbow chasing. But use these handy hints and you’ll have more time for the good stuff.

If you can work from home, why not work from Spain? Small towns there are attempting to reverse emigration by welcoming workers on ‘digital nomad visas’. Those who apply can expect traditional rural life – with superfast broadband.

London’s iconic tube map has been reimagined in honour of Black History Month. In collaboration with the Black Cultural Archives, TFL has renamed every station to celebrate great black Britons from throughout history.

Drawing in the air – that’s what Lee Sangsoo considers his art. Using long strips of metal, he transforms his 2D illustrations into 3D sculptures. The flows, twists and subtle gradients bring his subjects to life.

Coffee is the lifeblood of our studio. We’re always on the lookout for new places to try, so we were delighted to find this handy guide to the best independent shops in locations all over London. A great excuse to drink more coffee! Find your new local.

In November 2001, Wim Wenders visited Ground Zero to capture the devastation caused by 9/11 and document the recovery operation then underway. A new exhibition at the Imperial War Museum reveals the gravity of what he saw. Free until January 9th.

There really is a Wikipedia page for everything. The buttered cat paradox? Got it. The Twinkie defence? Naturally. George H. W. Bush’s broccoli comments? Covered. They even have a list of lists of lists, which, of course, contains itself.

Cycling is part of the solution to climate change. It’s a greener way to get around that’s sustainable and accessible. Some people are so certain about the role it’ll play that they’re going to extreme lengths to get everyone on their bikes.

Gritty and beautiful. Taking inspiration from Bourne, Batman, and Black Widow – Daniel Craig’s era as James Bond aimed to modernise and rejuvenate a franchise that felt stuck in the past. And, now that his tenure is over, it’s time to evaluate his success.

After a rough tackle ended in a broken leg, NFL quarterback Alex Smith was left questioning his future. With time and support, he slowly overcame his self-doubt and anxiety. Now, he shares his hard-won insights for dealing with setbacks.

Since he knew that he was losing his sight, Ian Treherne has been obsessed with capturing moments on film. And the Paralympics were no exception. In his signature cinematic style, he seized the opportunity to showcase inspiring young athletes.

Pandemic restrictions have turned the idea of living, working, shopping, and socialising within walking distance into something that might actually be possible. But, what are the benefits of living locally?

With their new feature, BBC Travel hope to share joy and extraordinary stories from around the globe. Spotlighting thriving communities and natural wonders – they challenge you not to fall in love with the world around you.

It can be hard to compute that our digital activities have a real-world impact. But everything we do, even ignoring our email pile-up, adds up. So, maybe it’s time to clear out your inbox.

It’s a proven fact that talking to your plants can help them grow. But, have you ever wondered if they could talk back? It turns out there’s a whole team of scientists investigating plant communications. So, one day soon, we might know what plants are saying.

Wilfrid Wood is probably best known for the satirical sculptures used in Spitting Image. But recently, he’s branched out into portraits, painting all the imperfections and idiosyncrasies of “curious people” who put themselves forward via Instagram. Would you volunteer?

At the end of a hectic week, our minds can feel busy and full. To help you relax into the weekend, take a peek at Yuki Kawae’s zen gardens. Watching his beautiful patterns emerge, all your stress will melt away.

Time-lapse photography is an art that requires preparation and patience – two things Louie Schwartzberg must have in spades. He spent 15 years meticulously capturing stunning footage of a myriad of magical mushrooms for Netflix’s Fantastic Fungi documentary.

Research suggests that people with freely moving thoughts are happier. The kind of thoughts that takes you from dinner deliberations to musings about the view from the Eiffel Tower. It’s easy if you’re in the right mindset.

As global temperatures continue to rise, scientists have noticed a strange phenomenon. Birds, fish, and even mammals are shrinking. For now, the changes seem small, but they could eventually push species towards extinction. But why is this happening? And what can we do to stop it?

All of us were beyond excited to move into our shiny new office this month. But, after more than a year of remote working, there was something a little curious in the air that first morning as we all tried to remember how to make small talk for longer than it takes everyone to join a Zoom call.

2021 has been the summer of the staycation: even Banksy had one. The artist has been on a tour of East Anglia, leaving souvenirs in all the towns he visited. Though it appears not everyone appreciated his gifts.

In search of an eco-friendly alternative to the plastic shading sitting above their town, the council of Alhaurín de la Torre turned to local crochet teacher Eva Pacheco. With her students, she has produced almost 500 square meters of colourful shade.

Thumbs up for good and down for bad. Universal symbols that transcend languages. Or so you might think. Only it turns out, like languages, hand signals don’t always translate. What to you might mean ‘that’s great’ could be interpreted as an offensive gesture or a sign that you’re swimming back to the surface.

From 50 years in the future, sci-fi writer Kim Stanley Robinson reads a ‘history’ where humans have ended climate change and improved quality of life for all. His words lay out a plan of what we might do to make his past our reality. Will we take his advice?

Dr Adrian Smith has a history of filming insects in incredible slow motion. Recording 6000 frames per second, not even microscopic movement escapes his capture. Now, he’s turned his attention to moths, shooting their flight in stunning slow motion.

Rickrolling has gone from a fringe phenomenon to a universal pop culture reference: introducing Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up to a whole new generation. To commemorate the video reaching 1,012,897,703 views on YouTube, The Pudding has done a deep dive to chart its history.

Fossil evidence suggests that early humans spent a lot of time in trees. So, climbing is literally in our bones. So much so that Germany’s Olympic climbing coach took inspiration from their movements. Translating their twists and turns into tactics for his competitive climbers.

Today is the only Friday 13th of 2021. A day so scary, it inspired a hit slasher film and compels the deeply suspicious to avoid leaving the house. Fear of the number 13 even has its own name; triskaidekaphobia. But where did all this superstition come from?

The Arc is the latest building to be completed on the site of the Green School: a private school in Bali promoting sustainability through learning in a natural environment. The intricate design is the most complicated they’ve attempted, but the months of research and planning were undoubtedly worth the spectacular results.

It turns out that making something look simple is actually really, really complicated. Extensive planning goes into every one of Anna Devís and Daniel Rueda’s cheeky compositions. They don’t use any editing software, so everything needs to come together flawlessly. #nofilter

No longer the preserve of children’s parties and hospital meals, jelly is having a renaissance. Breaking free of its associations as a textureless, tasteless blob, it has become popular with grown-ups seeking a subtle and sophisticated taste sensation. But why is it making a comeback now?

Like it’s that easy. Except, maybe it is. We put too much pressure on ourselves to always pick the perfect option. For a more relaxed approach to decision making, we need to take a leaf out of Jeff Bezos’ book (not something we ever thought we’d recommend!).

The BBC’s Tokyo trailer is one of the stars of this year’s games. Inspired by Japanese anime and video games, a single shot carries viewers through a myriad of vibrant scenes. Hidden in the intricate details are references to the Olympics and athletes. How many can you spot?

The year is 1994. Onboard a ferry heading for a remote Irish island, Neville Presho scans the shore for the house he hasn’t seen for eight years. It’s one of the oldest and sits right above the harbour – it should be easy to see. But it isn’t there. It isn’t anywhere.

The quirky characters at Nante’s Jardin des Plantes have three new friends. Stroll through the gardens, and you’ll spot Artist Jean Jullien’s colourful sculptures reclining in the grass, floating in the lake and hiding amongst the trees all summer long.

Blooming between buildings, sprouting in backyards and taking route in abandoned plots, tiny forests the size of tennis courts are growing in cities all over the world. These patches of nature provide shade, attract animals and insects and capture carbon – helping cities adapt to climate change.

What you can make with Lego is only limited by your imagination. But if you need a hit of inspiration, try Brickit. The AR app scans your pile of pieces and suggests which of Lego’s many sets you can build from what you have on hand. Time to dust off your collection.

Great managers inspire teams. And Gareth Southgate inspired his to their first-ever Euro final. Though it didn’t end with football coming home, England hadn’t played so well in years (55 to be precise). But, what is it about Southgate’s leadership style that brought out the best in England?

Composers have always seen the link between music and nature, but now scientists have found it too. Like music, natural sounds can influence our mood: make us feel safe, relaxed and reduce our stress levels. Even digital versions can do us some good.

Peel back the layers of tropical fruit, and what do you get? A mesmerizing stop motion video. Toronto-based animator Kevin Parry strips kiwis, mangoes and dragon fruit, revealing their curious insides. But, perhaps even more enrapturing is how he did it.

Jamie Hawkesworth approaches his subject with no preconceived notions. Instead of seeking out pubs, rain and cups of tea, he captures moments as he finds them. His most recent collection, The British Isles, is the culmination of a decade’s worth of observations from around the country.

Combatting climate change can feel like an impossible task. With so much to do, what can one person achieve? But, as climate activist Clover Hogan explains, challenging the stories that make you feel powerless can be the first step to taking action.

Everyone has their rituals – little habits that make them feel better – and professional athletes are no different. For most tennis players choosing which ball to serve with is one such custom. (Just check out Wimbledon.) But is it all just luck? Or is there some science behind their choices?

Now that summer’s truly underway, you might be in search of somewhere to cool off. To escape the crowds, forgo London’s lidos and head outside the city. Some of the best wild swimming spots around are only a train ride away. You can thank us later.

What makes a pear taste like a pear? And how can you make something else taste like one? As a flavour inventor, Maria Wright tries to answer questions like this every day. She’s invented over 1,500 flavours – including some you might have tried.

It’s time to evolve our working habits. At least according to design consultancy Arup, whose employees can work any day of the week. Extending the working week means they can take time off during the week or work extended hours to unlock a longer weekend.

From a fresh glass of lemonade to a classic banana split, Andrea Love makes all the summer staples. In her miniature kitchen, Love makes tutorials for recipes that look more than good enough to eat. The catch? They’re made of wool.

East London has been transformed into England’s largest outdoor gallery. Over 500 works of art from independent galleries are on display from now until the 27th of June. Art appreciators can spend a sunny afternoon winding their way through the numerous displays.

Nestled away in rural Ontario, Footsteps Studio makes the sound effects for some of your favourite films. Using their extensive and eclectic collection of props, they can make sounds to fit any film: whether it’s creating the perfect splash or finding the ideal pair of shoes for footsteps.

Creating more nuance and vulnerability than should be possible using unspun wool, Salman Khoshroo sculpts bold faces. The portraits, inspired by his experience in quarantine, have been like therapy for Khoshroo. He finds joy in the juxtaposition of using a traditionally feminine material to interpret the masculine condition.

The preference for aesthetically pleasing plants doesn’t just exist in the general population; scientists have it too. Their bias towards pretty plants means less conventionally appealing species are less likely to be studied and could be disappearing without anyone noticing.

What defined your lockdown? Endless jigsaws, multiple attempts to perfect banana bread, or maybe a love-hate relationship with your laptop? In Future Archaeology of a Global Lockdown, Paula Zuccotti compiles over 1000 images taken by people from around the world, representing their lockdown story through 15 objects.

To celebrate the 50th edition of Shareables, we’ve found 50 curious facts to get your brain whirring. Click to discover: the dangerous consequences of sneezing too hard, the world’s most stolen book, and which is the only mammal that can’t jump.

Exploring the world through Interest-Curiosity (the kind that makes you question who built the first snowman or decided to put milk in tea) can help you break bad habits and reduce anxiety. What a great reason to keep reading Shareables!

Britain has hundreds of museums, and now that they’re open again, it’s time to immerse yourself in all the curiosities they have to offer. Indulge your fascination for farm wagons at The Museum of English Rural Life, or learn the history of Queen Victoria’s stockings in Framework Knitters Museum.

For two months, from the 26th of May, Leadenhall Market will be alight with the glow of hundreds of neon signs as God’s Own Junkyard takes over the historic venue. The interactive display will be full of props from famous films like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. How many movies will you spot?

If you’re too busy texting to watch where you’re walking, never fear, Third Eye can do it for you. The eye, which rests on the forehead, can alert you to upcoming obstacles. Pretty clever but, if you think you need one, perhaps it could be time to reassess your relationship with your all-consuming phone!

In cities throughout France, mosaics have crept into public spaces. Cracks in the pavement and gaps in plaster have been filled with vivid geometric patterns. Boldly contrasting with their grey surroundings, artist Ememem’s mosaics bring colour to everyday life.

Conrad Withey has designed a new way to find up-and-coming musical talent. His system tracks streaming and social media data to identify artists who already have an audience. But, as he readily admits, what’s popular isn’t always good.

Since it dethroned Times New Roman 14 years ago, Calibri has been Microsoft’s default font. But now, they’re searching for its successor. Five custom fonts have been revealed as potential replacements, and Microsoft is asking the public for feedback. Always a risk!

When the sun goes down, self-taught photographer Steven Kovacs heads down to the ocean. It might seem counterintuitive, but this is the best time to capture some of the sea’s more unusual inhabitants. The dark background highlights the most striking features of the life below the water’s surface.

Nowadays we’re turning our homes into urban jungles. But, once upon a time, fairytale-like forests spread over the countryside. Many were lost long ago, but some still survive in secluded and wild pockets of the world, and they need to be protected.

The right soundtrack can set up your day. Up-beat, down-tempo, old school or new wave: there’s music for every mood. And, for when you need to be inspired, there’s Brainstorm Radio. A collection of tunes curated by the great and the good of the creative industry.

In search of a better ending, Pamela Mishkin re-examines her last relationship in the form of an interactive essay. Co-written by GPT-3, a virtual text generator, the essay blurs the lines between artificial and emotional intelligence. Find your own version of this interactive adventure.

Just in case you ever find yourself about to take off, Megan McArthur shares her advice on how to prepare to shoot for the stars. Megan has already logged more than 500 million miles in space and so who better to share their experience.

London’s parks have provided a literal breath of fresh air for many in the past year. For those of us confined to the capital, they’ve become outdoor gyms, places to gather with friends and a welcome connection to nature. It’s no surprise they’re some of the country’s favourites.

The Curious Film Club is proud to recommend Conor Finnegan’s new short film ‘Fear of Flying’. The charming animation follows Dougal as several setbacks scupper his plans to hunker down for the winter. Left with no other options, Dougal confronts his fears and flies south – but not in the way you’d expect.

The Design Museum’s Supermarket installation is motivated by the idea that creativity should be accessible to everyone. The aisles of the ’80s inspired shop will be stocked with essentials from kidney beans to loo roll, all wrapped up in packaging designed by emerging artists. Doors opened on April 21st.

14.5% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock, and cows make up two-thirds of that figure. But there’s a solution: seaweed. A sprinkle of Asparagopsis taxiformis in a cow’s dinner will reduce their methane production by 85%. Holy cow that’s a lot less methane!

Described by its creator, Pascal Schelbli, as ‘simultaneously stunning and filthy’, short film The Beauty imagines the world on the ocean floor is made entirely of plastic. Bubble-wrap pufferfish swim serenely through coral made from plastic straws and cutlery, highlighting the extent to which we have already damaged a delicate ecosystem.

Coronavirus restrictions have limited our opportunities for social interaction. Dinner parties? Cancelled. Post-work drinks? Online only. Zoom quiz? Please, not another one. So, it’s not surprising that one year on, certain friendships have fallen by the wayside. But is prioritising who we spend time with actually a bad thing?

Have you heard of a medlar? It featured in the Canterbury Tales and Romeo and Juliet, but now it’s not available in a single British supermarket. How did one of medieval Europe’s favourite fruits go from a dietary staple to a distant memory in less than a hundred years?

Art lovers rejoice! The world’s most visited museum has made almost 500,000 works from its collections available online. Now you can wander through the Louvre’s virtual galleries admiring the art while you wait for their doors to reopen IRL. Merci beaucoup le Louvre!

In the past, mosaics depicted epic tales, gods and objects of value. Ruaidhri Ryan has taken a different approach. His mosaics feature items most would consider mundane, typical of contemporary life. He finds humour in the juxtaposition of his subjects’ perceived value and the time and labour he puts into honouring them.

The star of Anna Matzaris’ new stop motion short film displays increasingly improper workplace behaviour from stealing food to cutting someone’s tie off in a meeting – none of which will stand you in good stead for a promotion. But beneath the humour, the film highlights how becoming a mother can actually trump every inappropriate action when it comes to career progression.

Chemical engineer turned artist Masayoshi Matsumoto creates sculptures from balloons. He can twist and fashion any animal you can imagine, from a hummingbird to a jellyfish. His Instagram feed, where he documents his work, could convince anyone that balloons are not just for children.

Chemical engineer turned artist Masayoshi Matsumoto creates sculptures from balloons. He can twist and fashion any animal you can imagine, from a hummingbird to a jellyfish. His Instagram feed, where he documents his work, could convince anyone that balloons are not just for children.

Shake off the lockdown blues by taking a look at some of the most colourful destinations from across the world. This is a golden opportunity to start planning a trip that will make your friends green with envy. So, when travelling becomes more than a rose-tinted memory, you can head straight to Rainbow Mountain.

‘Where do you see yourself in five years?’ An innocent question with the power to send you spiralling. Most people don’t have their whole life planned. But, if you’re asking yourself, ‘what’s next?’, Professor of design, Bill Burnett, has five tips for how applying design-based thinking can help you re-envision your life.

If grapes can survive in space, they can survive anywhere. That was Space Cargo Unlimited’s thought when they sent 320 grapevines to the International Space Station. They hope the grapes will evolve up there to then be able to grow in harsher conditions on Earth. So, in the case of climate disaster, at least there will be wine.

Love it or hate it, working from home has been part of the ‘new normal’ for nearly a year. And while we’ve enjoyed the extra half hour in bed, we’ve missed the hustle and bustle of the office. Sam Mellish’s new photography collection holds up a mirror to the reality of working from home.

Have you ever wondered how Stockholm Syndrome got its name? The film industry portrays it as romantic (we’re looking at you Beauty and the Beast), but ultimately illogical. Yet, in the original case, defending the kidnappers might have been the most rational course of action…

Even your washing has the potential to become a masterpiece. Visual artist Helga Stentzel makes art from the everyday objects around her. Her latest works of ‘household surrealism’ are Pegasus and Smoothie; animals made out of unwanted clothes. More animals coming soon.

Not literally. But food is an important part of culture. In Singapore, the hawker markets are a physical representation of the country’s identity. They sell food from the Chinese, Malay and Indian communities that live there and have grown and changed alongside Singapore. So much so, that they’re now UNESCO recognised.

It’s easy to get lost in big questions. We know, we ask them all the time. What if we make the wrong decisions? Should we be doing more? Does what we do even matter? This charmingly illustrated short film reminds us all to stop, breathe, and enjoy the moment. No one knows all the answers.

When Christoph Niemann looks at an apple, he sees a whisk. As part of his Sunday Series on Instagram, Niemann, who is well known for playing with scale and position, incorporates everyday objects into his illustrations. The result is a collection of quirky and clever compositions.

Experience your travel plans vicariously through the winning entries of the Sony World Photography Awards 2021. From awe-inducing ariel shots to striking portraits, the images from more than 50 countries capture the earth’s beauty and diversity. So you can explore the world from your own home.

Graphic artist Anthony Burrill has been busy in lockdown. He’s brought his signature style to a seven-story high mural in central Leeds. In a behind the scenes documentary, Burrill explains how he decided on the design and why it signifies to him “a particular moment and a particular time” during the global crisis.

The ‘overview effect’ describes how astronauts’ perspectives change when they look down on Earth from space. Benjamin Grant and Timothy Dougherty want everyone to be able to experience this. Their new book uses satellite and aerial imagery to show readers the world from high above.

Ladybird’s ‘What to Look for’ series has a new look. The books, which were published in the 1950s, have been modernised to teach a new generation of children about the world around them. The new illustrations both celebrate nature and warn of the dangers that threaten it.

With meticulous attention to detail, Thomas Duke has been recreating famous film scenes in London and beyond. By matching stills from films to the locations in which they were shot, Duke has brought characters from the distant past and magical worlds to familiar modern-day sites.

The Great Big Art Exhibition is open! From now until April, renowned artists including Ai Weiwei and Sonia Boyce are setting the nation new themes to respond to every fortnight. Everyone is encouraged to draw, sculpt, paint or build their own works of art and display them in their windows. Time to dig out your watercolours.

No, we’re not a month late – the Chinese New Year begins next Friday. It will mark the start of the Year of the Ox believed to be a symbol of hard work, intelligence and honesty. Did you know that more than a billion people celebrate Chinese New Year, with more fireworks set off in celebration on this night than any other all year round?

In the UK, 60% of wasted food is still safe to consume: Solveiga Pakštaitė created Mimica Touch to combat this problem. While best before dates provide a worst-case scenario, Pakštaitė’s temperature-sensitive labels give a more accurate indication of whether food is safe to eat combined with a fun tactile twist.

In partnership with Mailchimp, It’s Nice That presents a new animated series detailing the ups and downs of entrepreneurial life. Brought to life with humour, energy and emotion, the situations the characters find themselves in are easy to relate to, even if you aren’t a business owner.

It’s curious which things stick in our minds. Why is it that you can remember your 5th birthday party but not what you ate for dinner last week? Whatever the reason, if you want to improve your memory, it might be as simple as chewing gum while you work. Try these tips and see what works for you.

Over 150 years before the first animated GIF, Belgian physicist Joseph Plateau invented the phenakistoscope. This device showed users a series of images in rapid succession. To viewers, these appeared to be a single moving picture. Colossal has curated a collection of digitised phenakistoscope images.

As many of us are spending more time at home than ever before, our houses should be somewhere we feel comfortable. The Modern House has put together a list of suggestions for turning your house into a safe haven. While installing a wine tap might seem like a pipe dream, their other ideas are infinitely more doable.

Tatsuya Tanaka has been crafting scenes from everyday items and tiny figures for 10 years. His work has featured Oreos as pianos and melons as bridges. Recently his art has featured objects that have become synonymous with coronavirus. Facemasks and toilet rolls have transformed from objects that represent the pandemic to ski slopes and camping grounds.

Complaining about life and society is not a recent development. Renaissance-era Venetians had a unique system for registering complaints. Instead of taking to Twitter, they could post their rantings in the bocche di leone (or Lion’s mouths) scattered around the city. A great comms channel for getting citizens’ issues directly to their government.

There’s no getting around it 2020 was a difficult year for everyone, but small things made it better. With the promise of a vaccine roll out this year, we can begin to think about a time after coronavirus. Planning ahead and having nice things waiting for us is vital for mental health and with that in mind here are 21 things to look forward to in 2021.

Over the years the Ghent Altarpiece has been burned, pawned and stolen. To this day, the disappearance of one of its panels is under investigation. Curious to know more, art historian, Noah Charney’s TED video provides a short history of this much-coveted masterpiece.

Matching festive flavours and designs, Sugar Lab, the LA-based digital bakery, has created a series of 3D candies and ornaments perfect for the holidays. Each design is the result of collaboration between designers and chefs so you can be sure they taste as good as they look.

The Christmas show is a time-honoured tradition. You might not make it to your local pantomime this year (Oh no you won’t!), but the wonder of technology means the theatre can come to you. Timeout has put together a guide of the best shows available to stream in December. An enjoyable way to support the Arts to make sure your theatre-going days aren’t behind you.

Government advice warns against playing games outside your bubble. But, if a recent Netflix series has awoken your passion for chess, don’t fear; there are plenty of ways to improve without in-person competition. So, this time next year you might be winning opens, regionals, and grudge matches against close family members.

Pressure on big department stores to outdo themselves and each other year on year has led to Christmas window displays becoming bigger, brighter and more creative than ever before. Highlights from this year’s offerings include a Santa following government guidelines, a reimagining of Wind in the Willows and some tongue-in-cheek Scrooge spirit.

Patagonia is well known for its creative calls to action. The company has been challenging consumers to practice smarter shopping habits since their ‘don’t buy this jacket’ advert in 2011. This year’s Black Friday ad uses clever wordplay to challenge attitudes towards climate change. Curious about the content? Here’s a hint. meop elbasrever.

Life is full of cringe moments that make you want to disappear into thin air. Like waving back at someone who is waving to the person behind you. Or forgetting the name of someone you’re talking to. It’s what makes us endearingly human. As this award-winning animation by Nata Metlukh shows.

Los Angeles is literally paving the way to a greener future. Using plastic waste, otherwise destined for landfill, to replace the oily sludge called bitumen that is normally used to hold roads together. While there’s some doubt about long term effects, it’s encouraging to see governments looking for environmentally friendly solutions.

Previous editions of Daniel Gebhart Koekkoek’s annual calendar have focused on leaping cats and llamas in unexpected places. This year it’s guinea pigs that have captured his attention. Elevated from nostalgic childhood pets to pin-up stars, Glynis, Belissa, and friends will put a smile on your face in 2021. Curious about his inspiration, find out more below.

‘Did you see this?’ Brits send 64 million pointless emails every day. And every one requires electricity consumption from devices, networks and data centres. Sending fewer emails could reduce carbon emissions by 16,433 tonnes a year. So, be an eco-hero and think before you send that email. Cheers.

‘Tis the season for Christmas ad competition. We’re curious to see how 2020 has shaped this year’s festive offerings. After a difficult year for retail, these ads have provided some Christmas cheer. From a determined carrot to a reimagining of Singing in the Rain and an invitation to spread some kindness, here’s a selection of this year’s best ads.

Not an easy question, but one that Clemens Wenger has tried to answer. With live music and events cancelled for the foreseeable future, Wenger has looked for alternative ways to present his new album. His solution is an interactive website where the audience can interact with graphics inspired by his love of physics. Have a play.

How do you get better and better at the things you love to do? It’s hard to keep motivated if improvement isn’t driving you forward. We found this TED Talk from Eduardo Briceño really inspiring. Especially the bit about ‘Zones’ – the learning zone and the performance zone. Discover more about his helpful techniques.

What we all need to do is stay curious – there’s never a dull moment when you do. So, follow the link to step back in time, head off on safari, join Nasa in space, dive into fiction or simply learn something new. From insightful podcasts to livestreams, we love a bit of lockdown fun.

‘Tis true! Give yourself a constraint – time, money, word count – and your brain leaps into action; becoming more inventive than ever before. Look at Dr. Seuss who was challenged to write a children’s book using only 50 different words. The result was Green Eggs and Ham – say no more!

The International Space Station is easy to see if you know where to look. (It orbits our planet 16 times a day.) It’s hard to believe humans have lived onboard for 20 years. What on earth must life be like? We were curious to explore the extraordinary detail of the interior space.

Halloween and astrology lovers are about to get very excited. A full moon on Halloween only happens once in a blue moon – every 18 to 19 years, to be exact. Needless to say, you won’t want to miss this tomorrow. The next blue moon on Halloween is in 2039! Happy pumpkin day.

Would you enclose yourself in a huge plastic bubble to see your favourite band? You can sing along safely. Everyone is protected. What’s not to love. This is exactly what American rock band Flaming Lips has been testing out for future concerts. It could catch on.

From “I hope this email finds you well” to “thanks in advance”, the same well-worn phrases, “I’m just reaching out”, there’s another, are plain insincere. Why have we got ourselves into such a clichéd way of communicating? Is it easier? What can we do about it? For starters, let’s be aware.

Hello, little one. Tell us what’s so amazing about you. Found in wooded areas of the US west coast, this beetle can survive loads of about 39,000 times its body weight. Close examination revealed an interlocking exoskeleton and inspiration for next-generation materials.

We seem born to do it. Words are flowing, then whoa! Eleven seconds in – seems to be the average time – our colleagues interrupt. Just as solutions are forming, apologising as they do it! The world would be so different if only we had the luxury of finishing our sentences. What can we do?

If you’re someone who takes ages to change a light bulb, refill the windscreen wiper fluid, or oil a squeaky door, may we point you in the direction of this highly illuminating article. Great news! Procrastination doesn’t have to plague your life. It just needs looking at differently.

Avanti West Coast want to shout loud and proud about the launch of their new Pride train. Now a permanent part of the fleet and wonderfully displaying all the colours of the Pride flag, this represents a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion. And the new nameplate for the train? Progress.

On 26th April 1986 at 1:23 am in Control Room 4, a malfunction occurred, causing the worst nuclear disaster in world history. Thousands abandoned their homes, leaving the area desolate to this day. Writer and photographer Darmon Richter ventures into the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

Product design seems to have overlooked the humble toilet roll holder. The Marta Gallery in LA put out a great brief to raise its stature in the bathroom while drawing attention to the impact of tree-derived products. Here, the curators present some re-imaginings from the functional to the conceptual.

In this work-from-home era, Zoom has kept us connected so we can gather and share ideas. We’re grateful for the tech but it’s limiting at times. You can’t collaborate on projects, file share, see each other clearly…we were curious to learn how these designers were fixing it.

In a curious way, the pandemic has given us a glimpse of a quieter world. With a drop in noise levels, urban male birds have switched to a different song. Sweeter, purer, a more complex sound – more attractive to female birds. For a while, birds didn’t need to sacrifice song quality to be heard above all our din. Every cloud.

Here’s the brief. If you had to redesign our cities to accommodate a world in which we could no longer live in close proximity, what would you do? Build socially distanced outdoor meeting rooms? Transform streets into miniature greenbelts? Turn cities into a collection of little villages? Four architects share their visions.

With winter drawing near, sorry to mention, we could take inspiration from Norway and their positive mindset when dealing with the long ‘polar night’. They see the situation not as stress but as a challenge. Outdoor (safe) socialising, long walks, comfort food… winter is to be enjoyed. As they say, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes.

Good question. Half a million tonnes of rubber tyre particles are produced across Europe every year from cars braking, accelerating or turning a corner. These plastic emissions enter our waterways, polluting our oceans and the air we breathe. The Tyre Collective are doing something about it. Discover more about their innovative solution.

Sir David Attenborough made his Instagram debut last week and the world loves it. In just four hours and forty-four minutes, he broke Jennifer Aniston’s record for the fastest time to reach a million followers. Looking after our planet is everyone’s responsibility. He’s taken to Insta to explain the problems and inspire change. What a great man!

Our desire to see the world hasn’t gone away but, at the moment, we also want to stay at home. We’ve all got so many questions. Is it safe? Where can I go? To learn how the landscape has changed, here are answers to 14 of the most pressing questions about the future of travel.

Did you know 87% of unwanted clothing ends up in landfill? Our throwaway culture is trashing the planet. Chemical engineer Alina Bassi hopes to change the landscape of clothing waste using a low-energy process to turn clothing fibres into an alternative to oil-based plastic.

The comedy wildlife photography awards have announced the finalists, including 44 images for 2020. A smiley fish, a photo-bombing giraffe…these shortlisted images highlight the similarity between humanity and nature. As well as promoting the extremely important message of wildlife conservation. Enjoy!

Forbes listed Jacqueline Novogratz as one of the World’s 100 Greatest Living Business Minds. CEO and Founder of Acumen, Jacqueline has made it her life’s work to understand poverty and bridge the gap between rich and poor. Here she shares how we can create big, positive change.

A sword-billed Hummingbird captured in flight. A sleepy owl camouflaged by tree bark. A great crested grebe on the attack. Incredible moments caught on camera by the 2020 bird photographer of the year competition winners. We just had to share.

It’s no surprise we’re finding it hard to concentrate. Now many of us are working from home, distractions are always within easy reach. Our focus has been affected by the pandemic and it’s not easy to go on holiday and recharge. Where are those concentration hacks when you need them? They are right here. Hope they help.

Neuroscientist and sleep researcher, Matthew Walker, says “sleep is our superpower”. Compromised sleep means a compromised immune system and we don’t want that. So go to bed at the same time, wake up at the same time, weekdays and weekends, and sleep yourself to good health.

Soho has always encapsulated Rock ‘n’ Roll, so Carnaby Street is the perfect location for The Rolling Stones to open their world-first flagship store. You can get what you want from merchandise to chairs and glassware. Doors are opening on September 9th. See you there.

If something is blue surely we all see that it’s blue. But what if it’s not that straightforward? Cultural historian Kassia St Clair and artist Emyr Williams go head-to-head debating whether colour is purely subjective or an objective force. Curious?

We wanted to end this issue of Shareables on a high. We’re excited to share our shiny new website with people we’d go to a remote island with – let’s drink to that (inspiration below). We can order drinks safely through QR codes and if we forget our masks (let’s not), someone might launch one directly onto our faces! Curious world!

We like this question very much. It’s making us think about who we love, who we want to spend time with, who we value and who values us. Being with the people with whom you feel you really belong “enhances a sense of meaning in life”. Thank you to Frank Martela, philosopher and psychology researcher, for asking.

Apprehensive about picking up menus? Ahhhh so that’s what a QR code is really for. The funny black, barcode-like square has finally come into its own, enabling us all to interact with the world around us – without touching anything but our smartphones. Now you can eat out safely.

This is certainly a radical solution for those still reluctant to wear face masks. We were intrigued. It’s a mask launcher that, er…launches masks onto people’s faces. Definitely gets the message across if you happen to leave yours in the car. You can discover more about the prototype here.

Clean water and sanitation were recognised as human rights by the United Nations on 28th July 2010. 1 in 10 people still lack access. This thought-provoking collection of visual art commissioned by WaterAid calls on governments to invest more to help those in need.

If we are to live on Mars one day (or wherever?), this seems quite a necessary experiment to do. Eight people living within a self-sealed environment with its own tropical vegetation. This documentary explores whether we could live sustainably in a geodesic dome.

Nike’s new ad is goosebump inducing. Its powerful imagery compels you to watch it over and over again. With 72 sports and 36 split-screen slides, you don’t know what to marvel at first. The mastery of the editing or the powerful messages as the world comes together as one.

Fancy being a space tourist onboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity? You’ll experience weightlessness in zero gravity. Observe the curve of the Earth. And the blackness of the cosmos beyond the atmosphere. Seats are a mere $200,000.

“Can I go on holiday this year?” “Will I have to quarantine?” Summer. Is. Not. Cancelled! The most incredible wild scenery and epic coastal roads are begging to be explored. And all just a stone’s throw from our own front doors. Waterside castles and traditional pubs here we come.

Memorising speeches, names of people, birthdays… why don’t they ever stay in your head? Nelson Dellis, four-time Memory Champion, teaches us how to hack your brain to remember almost anything – using “juicy mental images” and storing them in your “Memory Palace”.

Sometimes words alone aren’t enough to convey a deep level of emotion. In this compelling short film, powerful interviews are mixed with imaginative and dynamic movement to tell the story of two brothers dealing with their struggles growing up on a Hackney council estate.

Kyoto Garden full of Japanese Maple trees, tiered waterfalls and resident peacocks. Abney Park Cemetery teaming with wildlife. Roof gardens in the heart of Canary Wharf. Hampstead Pergola overgrown with vines and flowers…how we’ve missed you London.

With no outside family or friends allowed, keeping the Residents at Sydmar Lodge Care Home in good spirits has never been more crucial. Activities Co-ordinator Robert Speker had a plan: to recreate 12 classic album covers from Bowie to Madonna. Come and see the results. They’ve gone viral.

Fed up with your glasses steaming up while you talk through material? These innovative face masks have sorted that for us. Besides letting you communicate more easily, this transparent mask claims to kill pathogens. Others can record, make calls or even light up into a smile. Where can we get one?

Remember restaurants? Sitting outside enjoying long summer evenings, catching up with friends. Hold that thought because Soho is being pedestrianised, giving businesses from Bar Italia to The French House the space to set up their tables outside.

A good clear out does more than re-organise your environment. According to psychotherapist Dana Dorfman, “Our brains can process information more clearly and efficiently in an organised space.” That’s good because we’re in the office decluttering this week.

Have you discovered The Do Lectures? Remarkable Doers and change makers share their amazing stories, ideas, adventures, experience, creativity, thinking in the hope they will inspire you to go and do amazing things too. Do immerse.

This animated poem beautifully written by best-selling author Tom Rivett-Carnac and narrated by UN Messenger of Peace, Dr Jane Goodall, is a positive message of hope as we emerge from lockdown. Here’s to a new way of looking at things.

Step into your own private gallery space and experience the BP Portrait Award 2020 virtually from your living room. View 48 contemporary works of art on the wall. And explore each artist safely away from the crowd. Which is your favourite?

We’ve all adapted seamlessly to setting up office at home so now for a bit of fun. What if you could invite a goat to your next virtual meeting. (Yes, a goat!) Talk to Cronkshawfold Farm and for £5 you can choose a goat to join you. All proceeds to renewable technologies.

Amazing things are happening around us. But they can go unseen. That’s why imaginative infographics are so important and why we love this! Information is Beautiful has transformed how we see data. Beautifully visualising news, facts, trends and stats in positive and uplifting ways.

Chances are you’ll be pointing in front of you. That’s where the future lies. Right? You might wave over your shoulder if you’re talking about yesterday. The past. Different cultures express ‘time’ in fascinating ways. So if you’re learning a second language, be prepared to have your brain re-wired.

You can’t beat a good book and a garden hammock. The whole nation is reading right now – Waterstones has reported a 400 per cent increase in online book sales. Sshhh little tip to cut your reading bill. Get the free Libby app, sign in with your library card, you’ll save loads.

You won’t need reminding that Glastonbury’s 50th anniversary would’ve been this weekend. Moving on…there’s still fun to be had! Get your wellies out, pour your wine into paper cups, and praise the BBC for bringing Worthy Farm straight to our living rooms.

There are many ways we can show our support. Donate to causes that need funding. Sign a petition. Show solidarity on social media to raise awareness. Expand our knowledge. This is a great resource that we found useful.

Written for all to see. Big, yellow letters in permanent paint on the very street leading to the White House in Washington, D.C. A message the city’s mayor Muriel Bowser clearly wanted Donald Trump to see: Black Lives Matter

Following the death of George Floyd, the world is witnessing an unprecedented amount of activism and support for racial equality. Many artists and designers are drawing attention to Black Lives Matter through their talent and creativity. Check out these 3D scans showing solidarity with those protesting.

To highlight films that focus on Black Lives, the Criterion Channel has taken down the paywall on as many titles as they can in support of Black Lives Matter. You can now watch important classics such as Down in the Delta by Maya Angelou – the only film she directed – even if you aren’t a subscriber.

This historical collection of essays including 17 original literary works by contemporary black writers ‘examines the many aspects of American life that can be traced back to slavery’. If there’s anything we believe in the most, it’s the power of sharing and learning.

We are working very hard on this at Curious. Checking in on each other to make sure home and work life don’t blur into one. Wellbeing is important during this time; we discovered this TED Talk 10-day challenge and hope it helps keep you happy and sane.

In New York City, Domino Park has made it safe for people to enjoy being together outside. All you need is white chalk paint and a steady hand to mark out circles for your family members to sit inside. Looks quite arty. Curious times.

To celebrate his 68th birthday, Kevin Kelly, co-founder of Wired magazine, shares 68 pieces of advice with the “young ‘uns”. We hope you’ll take time out to listen. We did and discovered these are words to live by. Happy birthday Kevin Kelly.

2,186 projects, 4,211 meetings, 209 clients, 917 collaborators, 21 countries, 41,528 cups of coffee all add up to 18 years of being Curious. We’ve been curious about everything from beer and ovens to fintech and law. We’re immensely proud of our people, our clients and our work. We’re taking a moment to reminisce.

Could you tell one London Borough from another? The clues lie in the street sign fonts. If it’s Franklin Gothic, you’re in Camden. Note the style of the bollards. The street lights. And if the tarmac stops suddenly in the middle of the road, you’ve crossed the boundary. It’s potty. It’s nuts. And it’s all in this great video.

Honestly, who would’ve thought you could recreate Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper? Or Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring from home. Lockdown has inspired us all to bake sourdough, cut our own hair, exercise more… and now turn ourselves into masterpieces. The ingenuity of people.

The fragile but powerful resilience of mankind is beautifully expressed by author Neil Gaiman. “We are tougher than we seem. We are tougher than we think. Our stories will outlive us. Let’s make them good. May that which has been broken be restored.” We love his every word in this TED Talk on Twitter.

Must do this! The National Portrait Gallery is asking us all to send them a photographic portrait taken during these strange times. It can be a quick snap on your phone of a helper, a hero, your new normal, or an act of kindness. We think this is an amazing way to capture what we’re going through.

Design initiatives like these “virus slogans” from Annie Atkins remind us to do the simple things. Created to look like fake public health service posters, we like them because they are insightful and true. Screen prints will be sold to raise money for the hospice that cared for her mum.

Everyone’s baking it so why the trend? One explanation – it’s a simple way of avoiding food waste. (Also, there’s nothing more comforting.) When bananas go mushy, they’re perfectly ripe for repurposing… who would’ve thought we’d be connecting over banana bread? Curious times.

Noise everywhere! The more you try to focus, the louder it becomes. Or is it simply that we have become hypersensitive to the slightest sound? We’re yearning for peace right now, in our home offices, so we can think and work. As it turns out, the quest for quiet has been going on for centuries.

What if the word pink didn’t exist? Or if left and right were replaced with east and west? And why do English speakers get to the point quicker than those who speak Chinese? Language and the way we experience it changes depending on where we are in the world. So what can we learn from it?

This is the perfect time to follow your true passion. Screenwriting, filmmaking, interior design, photography, cooking… Masterclass gives you access to the Masters in their field through hundreds of online classes as they share their stories, skills, and successes. Lockdown is for learning.

Rio de Janeiro paid tribute to health workers in Brazil and across the world by illuminating the 125-foot-tall Christ the Redeemer statue with hope. Cutting edge technology transformed the giant Jesus into a Doctor with the words “stay home” written in various languages.

We just love these classic album covers reimagined for our social distancing era by LA agency Activista. Using a bit of graphic design magic, we see Blondie, The Beatles, U2, N.W.A sticking to the Government 2-metre rule. A real smile in the mind.

Isaac Newton had to WFH during a pandemic. With time to sit musing under apple trees, he became a great mathematician, developing his theories on optics and gravity. Fitzgerald needed isolation to turn out great fiction. Shakespeare wrote King Lear, Munch painted… it’s curious how social distancing stimulates invention.

Everyone wants to help. Ricky Gervais is telling jokes live on Twitter. Patrick Stewart recites a sonnet a day. Robbie Williams is livestreaming ‘Corona-oke’ on Insta. You can take free yoga classes, join Bootcamps, hang out with Madonna, go to the National Theatre every Thursday 7pm on YouTube… thank you for doing this.

Ideas, as we know, have the power to change the world. We must become one global creative department and use our imaginations to help spread impactful public health messages – across social media, digital, streaming, broadcast, print and radio. The brief from the UN is clear: use creativity to flatten the curve.

Human connection is our superpower. It makes us happier, smarter, and more productive. So how do we stay close while maintaining physical isolation? Without feeling zoomed out. Unheard. Or our privacy invaded? We were curious to know what author Priya Parker had to say on ‘The Art of Gathering’.

Our office desks 2-metres apart. Lunchtime in twos. Staggered commute times. Wearing face masks on the bus. How will we work? How will we party? How will we travel? Let’s start by looking at the future of holidays – because we will all deserve one.

Thank you to photographer Kristian Laine for giving us a glimpse of this special underwater creature. The only known pink manta ray spanning about 11 feet and nicknamed Inspector Clouseau after The Pink Panther.

We just wanted to remind ourselves of the beauty in the world. Please take care and let’s look after each other.

If we can’t be surrounded by inspirational people for a while, we can certainly listen to them. What makes a good leader? How do they inspire action? What makes us really happy? TED Talks are just what we need right now to learn new skills, feel empowered and broaden our horizons.

Thank goodness for the digital age and collaborative technology; we’re all for a connected world and seamless sharing. We do understand though that WFH, especially if we have no choice, isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. For those tempted to put Netflix on, here’s how to focus on the job and stay mentally healthy.

We refuse to let the ‘C’ word get us down. We can still be curious; we can still fill our minds with creativity and culture. We just need to think differently (which we are all very good at) and go to famous museums, art galleries, interesting exhibitions and talks from the best seat in the house. Our sofas.

What happens when a frozen food brand takes a stand against palm oil production? A sports brand fights for equal rights? Or a chocolate brand celebrates LGBTQ+ pride? This exhibition showcases the brands that have become powerful influencers. Come and see their much-debated creative work.

We’re taught to make a possessive by adding an apostrophe ‘s’. The King’s crown. But then the possessive pronoun ‘its’ doesn’t have an apostrophe. Waterstones, Boots and Reuters are brands that have chosen to break the rules – no apostrophe in their wordmark. Do we even need this tricky little high-up comma anyway?

If you haven’t seen these already, take a quick look. The Olympics has never had animated pictograms before – so these are the first ever in its history. 73 kinetic icons ‘subtly communicate the characteristics and athleticism of each sport’. And show how dynamic, innovative and special these games will be.

What is inspiration? Where do we get it? How can we keep getting it? How can we stop it from going away? Is it a thing that just happens to a person? Research shows you can generate your own pathway to creativity. This article debunks the myth that it’s not about sitting under a tree waiting for ideas to strike.

Does branding have the power to create a better world? Unite people. Reflect our beliefs. Shape cultures. Brands are no longer limited to products. They can stand for something so meaningful, become a powerful voice and effect change. Debbie Millman takes us back to where it all began 13.8 billion years ago. We were curious.

It’s true. If you’re not learning you’re standing still so what is the best way to learn? Richard Feynman, our favourite professor and champion of all things curious, sets out the best way to learn things – in 4 simple steps. Follow his formula and it will help you learn anything faster and with greater understanding.

You have to do something and, instead of putting it off, you just do it. Yesokasity. Or you tangle yourself up in an elaborated lie to avoid a social invitation. Nitwhoppering. Or you speak in public and don’t make any sense. Idioschlock. Great article here identifying new emotions and what they’re called. We love Name-nailing.

You’re probably too busy jostling for a seat on the tube or bus to notice the fabric design you’re actually sitting on. ‘Moquette’, an intricately woven carpet lines all the seats, you’ll notice it now! In fact, you’ve been sitting on over a hundred years of London history. Which design and colour palette transports you back?

The sight of empty shelves is panicking everyone into buying toilet roll. It’s sensible to stock up on essentials most definitely. The advice is to buy enough for two weeks, not 12 years like that family in Australia. What are they doing with it all? This video has some ideas.