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Does anyone else semi-frequently google for news on the legendary art heist from Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum? I do. I just did. Still no updates on the whereabouts of Rembrandt’s Storm on the Sea of Galilee. This and several other priceless works of art haven’t been seen since the robbery in 1990. They may never be seen again.
And just a few weeks ago, a Renoir, a Matisse and a Cézanne were taken from a gallery in Parma. They may never be seen again either. But given that you can’t exactly fence such famous artworks at a local carboot sale without someone recognising them, it’s a bit of a mystery as to what the financial value is for thieves. We’ve looked at what happens to stolen masterpieces and the three main motivations for taking them. None are what you might think.
Donald Trump has again been threatening to pull the US out of Nato, complaining that it’s a “one-way street”. In his view, the US puts a lot in and gets very little out. But is that really true? We investigated. The president is, in one sense, right – the US does put a lot in. Its annual bill comes in at around US$750 million. But the alliance does support the US on multiple missions around the world. And beyond tangible benefits of this kind, Nato is a powerful platform for defending US interests. It’s definitely not a one-way street.
It was thrilling to watch the astronauts of Artemis II take off for the Moon this week. On their ten-day mission, they won’t actually land but will carry out vital tests as a step towards setting up a Nasa base on the lunar surface. No one has set foot up there since 1972. Here’s why it took so long to return. And via this explainer on the epic physiological challenges posed by space travel, we can start to appreciate the
magnitude of the task ahead for these intrepid explorers.
Also this week, why even terrestrial travel messes with your tummy, why the rest of the world shouldn’t emulate Argentina’s inflation “miracle” – but why it perhaps should emulate Sweden’s approach to laundry.
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