DOG DAYS     
More than 8,500 kilometres separate Gelsenkirchen from Seoul, yet during the dog days people everywhere seem equally languid. While in Europe the hottest period of the year, beginning around 23 July, offers an entire month as a welcome excuse for leisurely idleness, Koreans traditionally concentrate it into three days known as Sambok – the "three hottest days." To help the body cope with the heat, special dishes are prepared. Samgyetang is a nourishing chicken soup with ginseng, garlic and rice. Nakjitang combines octopus and radish in a rich beef broth, while Yukgaejang is a spicy beef and vegetable soup. The principle behind these dishes is called iyeolchiyeol – fighting heat with heat. Fortunately, following the idea is much easier than pronouncing its Korean name. 

THE FABULOUS ART OF NATURE

Nature is the true master of imitation. Harmless hoverflies disguise themselves as wasps to avoid becoming a bird's next meal. Stick insects resemble twigs, frogs blend seamlessly into moss, and the screech owl disappears into the rocky landscape, waiting patiently for unsuspecting prey. On World Nature Conservation Day, celebrated on 28 July, it is not only nature's great performers that deserve our admiration, but also the countless grasses, plants, animals and fungi that make up the world's estimated eight to ten million species. And if the weather is too warm—or you simply don't feel like searching for a perfectly camouflaged owl through a pair of binoculars—Ruth Gurvich has captured these birds in lifelike porcelain, where they are wonderfully easy to find.