Perfect Planet

It was one of those late summer afternoons when time seems to slow down, and the sky—stained amber and purple—announces a beauty that defies explanation and can only be felt. Sitting on the porch, wrapped in the warm stillness of dusk, I began to hear, in the distance, the sound of a violin. But it wasn’t just any sound: it held an ancient melancholy, as if the day itself were playing a gentle farewell to its own passing. The notes floated over the rooftops with an almost magical lightness, intertwining with the chirping of crickets—the soundtrack of summer nights—and the soft whisper of the breeze. Everything fit together: sound and silence, warmth and nostalgia, solitude and the presence of something greater. There was an invisible harmony in the air. A subtle balance. A sense that, even if just for a moment, everything might make sense. I was reminded of the film Fiddler on the Roof and its description: “A universal story of hope, love, and acceptance.” Words that grow deeper as...

   The Myth of Sisyphus.  Imagine pushing a rock uphill. Every day. Always the same rock. Always the same mountain. And just when it seems you’re about to reach the top… the rock rolls back down to the base. This is the punishment of Sisyphus, a figure from Greek mythology. Sisyphus was the king of Ephyra (the ancient name for Corinth) and became famous for his cunning, having managed to deceive several gods – including Hades, lord of the underworld – and even postpone his own death for a time. According to the myth, Sisyphus tricked Thanatos, the personification of death, and later convinced Persephone to allow him to return to the world of the living. As punishment, he was condemned to an absurd and endless task: to push a massive boulder up a mountain, only to watch it roll back down again and again. An unceasing effort, without aim or visible purpose. This story intrigues us because of its profound symbolism. The French philosopher Albert Camus reinterpreted the myth ...

1st of April. Just another day? Or, in truth, every day?  April Fool’s Day hasn't always been like any other. Nor has it always been a day of lies, pranks, and the “fools” who are tricked—or who deceive, and sometimes even deceive themselves. One of the most widely accepted explanations for the origin of this tradition dates back to the 16th century, with the introduction of the Gregorian calendar by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. Prior to this reform, New Year was celebrated between 25 March and 1 April. With the adoption of the new calendar, New Year moved to 1 January. However, some people continued to celebrate it in April, whether out of resistance to change or ignorance of the new rules. These individuals became targets of mockery and practical jokes, earning the label “April’s fools.” Over time, the custom spread and evolved into what we now know as April Fool’s Day. In today’s world of rampant misinformation, trust in traditional sources of knowledge—such as the media and sci...

…8979323846 2643383279 5028841971 6939937510 5820974944 5923078164 0628620899 8628034825 3421170679… You might be wondering: are these two out of their minds?! What are these numbers? We’re not sure if your opinion of us will improve when we reveal that this is just a tiny snippet of an infinite sequence. So rejoice! We've simply listed the first 100 digits of the mathematical constant π (pi). The discovery that the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter is constant – represented by π – dates back to antiquity and has fascinated humanity ever since. The ancient Egyptians and Babylonians measured it; Greek geniuses like Archimedes proved it and established limits (between 3.1408 and 3.1428); Chinese and Indian scholars refined its accuracy; and medieval and modern mathematicians revealed its true nature. What began as a simple observation in circular objects became a profound mathematical constant. Thus, the story of π is a testament to intercultural discoveries, conti...

  We are pleased to share with you the publication of a scientific article (authored by us), whose empirical analysis is motivated by physical inactivity and overweight and obesity as significant risk factors for global mortality. The article can be accessed here:  link . In this study, we explore the role of mobile applications in promoting physical activity, highlighting their relevance as a public health tool. The results indicate that the use of these applications is associated with the adoption of healthy habits, mainly due to the possibility of self-assessment, continuous monitoring, and personalized goal setting. Users' motivation seems to be more related to tracking their own performance rather than traditional loyalty strategies, although gamification can play a relevant role when properly balanced. The article also presents policy implications to maximize the benefits of these tools. Governments can encourage the development and adoption of applications aligned with ...

  Urban Myths.  When we started writing this column, we felt like a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown —something that, according to stereotypes, seems to be an exclusively female privilege . Naturally, Priscila  had the meltdown , while Pedro remained stiff and firm like an iron bar . It was just like that classic moment when we had to attend an event and suddenly realise, to our horror, that we have absolutely nothing to wear! Everyone knows how women are: indecisive, emotional, ignorant, uneducated, resentful, and vengeful . They make decisions based on other people’s opinions , try to fit into imposed standards , and, of course, are so obsessed with appearances, gossip, and what others think that they hardly have time to form their own ideas. But let’s leave that behind and move on to what really matters: men. Women are complicated , and writing about them would be exhausting ; men, conversely, are simple, brilliant, and natural problem solvers . Hence the que...

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7… 8. No, dear reader, we are not learning to count, nor are we reciting the 8 times table in digital root . We are talking about the alignment of eight planets taking place this February . Yes, you read that correctly: EIGHT! A Planetary Parade Worth Counting News reports mentioned that six planets paraded across the sky in January and that in February, seven would align—since Mercury , not wanting to miss this grand event, has joined the group. However, when looking at the Solar System’s layout , we can identify eight planets , arranged in order from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Now, to avoid any discrimination , we must include in our count the "third rock from the Sun" (who remembers the TV show with that name?). After all, we observe a parade of seven planets from Earth, but Earth itself is also a planet , so it must be part of the event —don’t you agree? Thus, as reported, the parade will not...

Facing the World with Beauty When confronting the world, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by its adversities. Like you, we are fully aware of the imperfections and challenges of reality. Yet, we choose to direct our reflections toward beauty . When we speak of the “beautiful,” we do not do so in opposition to “ugliness.” Instead, we speak of beauty as a timeless source of inspiration , a driver of scientific progress , and an agent of transformation . The idea that “in numbers lies the nature of all things” ( ἐν τῷ ἀριθμῷ δέ τε τὰ παντ' ἐπέοικε ) is often associated with the Pythagorean school , reflecting the belief that the essence of the universe resides in numbers and mathematical proportions . Likewise, the concept of the “music of the spheres” —attributed to Pythagoras and later revisited by philosophers such as Plato —suggests that planets in motion generate an inaudible harmony resulting from  the mathematical relationships between celestial bodies and their orbits. To a...