To little children, alphabets seem as elemental as air. The idea that someone somewhere might use one different than your own could be disorienting—or inspiring.

“If you want an illustration of a sexy barbarian,” says an ancient proverb, “ask David Cantero to do it for you.” Who am I to argue!

For most of history, the color blue has been an exuberant luxury, reserved for the filthy rich. This is a story about how alchemy and science brought it to the blue-collar masses.