What We Are Reading Today: Light of the Stars, by Adam Frank

Updated 04 August 2018
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What We Are Reading Today: Light of the Stars, by Adam Frank

Light of the Stars tells the story of humanity’s coming of age as we awaken to the possibilities of life on other worlds and their sudden relevance to our fate on Earth. 

Astrophysicist Adam Frank traces the question of alien life and intelligence from the ancient Greeks to the leading thinkers of our own time.

Light of the Stars traverses a wide terrain of geological, biological and astronomical science, with emphasis on the history of terrestrial climate change and the factors causing those changes, and includes portraits of such scientists as Carl Sagan, Frank Drake, Lynn Margulis and others, said a review published in the New York Times.

The book is divided into two parts. One is a review of environmental science and a history of climate change on Earth. 

The other concerns the new field of astrobiology, with results from the Kepler satellite, launched in 2009 with the specific mission of looking for undiscovered solar systems. 

Frank is a professor of astrophysics at the University of Rochester.


Elie Saab, Zuhair Murad show new couture collections in Paris

Updated 29 January 2026
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Elie Saab, Zuhair Murad show new couture collections in Paris

  • Saab’s collection uses light as central theme
  • Exploration of structure, movement by Murad

DUBAI: Lebanese designers Elie Saab and Zuhair Murad presented their Spring/Summer 2026 haute couture collections in Paris earlier this week.

Look 1 by Elie Saab. (Supplied)

Saab’s collection referenced light as a central theme, expressed through elongated silhouettes and layered embellishment, according to a statement from the brand.

Look 2 by Elie Saab. (Supplied)

The runway featured gowns built on sheer bases, with metallic embroidery, sequins and crystal beadwork creating layered textures across champagne, gold, bronze and soft ivory tones.

Look 3 by Elie Saab. (Supplied)

Column dresses, deep necklines and floor-length gowns dominated the collection, while draped panels, embroidered capes and sheer overlays added movement.

Look 4 by Elie Saab. (Supplied)

Several looks incorporated fringed detailing and geometric patterns, with crystal embellishments catching the light as models walked.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by ELIE SAAB (@eliesaabworld)

Accessories were kept minimal, allowing the focus to remain on craftsmanship and surface technique.

Meanwhile, Murad’s collection also placed craftsmanship at the center of the show.

Look 1 by Zuhair Murad. (Supplied)

According to the house, the collection explored structure and movement, using corsetry to define the body and draping to create fluidity.

Look 2 by Zuhair Murad. (Supplied)

The runway featured fitted gowns and sculpted eveningwear built around structured bodices, many finished with dense embroidery, crystals and metallic thread.

Look 3 by Zuhair Murad. (Supplied)

A palette of champagne, pale blue, sage green, ivory and gold ran throughout the show, with strapless silhouettes, off-the-shoulder gowns and column dresses appearing alongside sheer panels, thigh-high slits and flowing trains.

Look 4 by Zuhair Murad. (Supplied)

Shorter dresses with crystal-encrusted bodices were shown alongside floor-length gowns, with sheer layers and extended trains.