“Kissing” Stars

Scientists have spotted two massive, super-hot stars twirling into each other about 160,000 light years away. The nearly identical stars are so close together (about 7.5 million miles away from each other) that their surfaces overlap—making them appear as if they’re kissing. If the stars continue on their paths, two outcomes are possible: they will merge together and form a single, massive star in a …

Inside an Abandoned Italian Castle

Netherlands-based photographer Martino Segwaard has a penchant for shooting abandoned buildings, and his latest subject happens to be his most beautiful yet. Though he won’t divulge its exact location, the palace-like residence—which prominently bears the words “Non Plus Ultra”—is most likely Castello di Sammezzano located just outside of Florence, Italy. Segwaard’s striking images capture the castle’s beautiful mosaic floors, high vaulted ceilings and intricately adorned …

The Surprising History Behind Typographic Symbols

It’s fascinating to think that younger generations will grow up only knowing “pound signs” as “hashtags”—yet, before that, did you know they were actually referred to as “octothorpes”? This continuous evolution of language affects all of us, and it’s the focal point of Adriana Caneva and Shiro Nishimoto’s new book “Glyph.” From ampersands to slashes, interrobangs and manicules, there’s a wide world of typographic symbols …