Did you know that Jules Verne— the legendary “father of science fiction”— was shaped by a childhood vow to travel “only in his imagination” ? According to family lore, an 11-year-old Verne, born in the…
-
-
Life-sustaining depths: The vital role of Earth’s oceans and seas
The oceans on Planet Earth are not just one massive body of water; they are distinct ecosystems with unique chemical compositions, temperatures and geological features. Together, the five major oceans act as…
-
Dr. Jane Goodall: Pioneer of primate ethology
Dr. Jane Goodall (1934-2025) was a true icon in the fields of primatology, anthropology, conservation and environmentalism. In her passing away on October 1, 2025, at 91, the world has lost a…
-
Paying for aroma – Nasreddin Hodja’s verdict
From time to time, whenever the chief judge who governed the village and gave judgments in the court was absent, the role was given to the Mulla Nasreddin Hodja. It was under just such…
-
Nasreddin Hodja’s parable of walnuts and watermelons
One hot day, Nasreddin Hodja was taking it easy in the shade of a walnut tree. After a time, he started eyeing speculatively at the huge watermelons growing on vines, and the…
-
Longing for God
Kabezya-Mpungu, the highest god, had created the sky and the earth and two human beings, a man and a woman endowed with reason. However, these two human beings did not, as yet,…
-
The story of the rainbow
Once upon a time, all the colours in the world started to quarrel; each claimed that she was the best, the most important, the most useful, the favourite. Green said: “Clearly I am…
-
Is there room in the inn
Wally was big for his age – seven years old. Everyone wondered what role the teacher would give him in the annual Christmas play. Especially considering the fact that he was also…
-
Jason Arday: A life retold
Jason Arday is a British sociologist, writer and fundraiser who has made a remarkable impact in academia despite facing significant challenges in his early life. Born in 1985 to Ghanaian parents, and…
-
Balto, the heroic sled dog
Balto was a Siberian Husky sled dog who played a crucial role in delivering diphtheria antitoxin to Nome, Alaska, in 1925. Here’s his remarkable story: In January 1925, a diphtheria outbreak in…