{vibrant make-over}

Why do rocks fall? Before Isaac Newton introduced his revolutionary law of gravity in 1687, many natural scientists and philosophers thought that rocks fell because falling was an essential part of their nature.

The art of gifting lies in finding those special pieces that feel both thoughtful and unexpected. As the holiday season approaches, we’ve curated two carefully considered gift guides—one for the men in your life, and another featuring elevated essentials for yourself or those close to you.

On a languid, damp July morning, I meet weed scientist Aaron Hager outside the old Agronomy Seed House at the University of Illinois’ South Farm. In the distance are round barns built in the early 1900s, designed to withstand Midwestern windstorms.