For many of Poland's peers the crisis exposed the narrow base of their economies.

ECONOMIST: Petri-dish economies: Poland

Most Palestinian analysts put his outburst down to the fact that the declaration exposed just how narrow his base of support has become: it consists mainly of his Fatah movement and, as the statement showed, not even all its members.

ECONOMIST: Palestinians

So for example, banks or other institutions which were exposed to subprime lending would still see their capital base depleted and their shareholders wiped out.

FORBES: Inverse Moral Hazard: A Slaughter Rule For Finance

We all know what happens when steel is left exposed and unmaintained: Corrosion causes it to revert to its base elements as rust.

FORBES: Forge The Customer Goodwill Alloy Of 'Thank You'

If any topical reminder was needed, it comes with the publication, coinciding with the London conference, of a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which urges the world to build on the full knowledge base to address the proved risks of climate change and increase resilience for those exposed to extreme events.

UNESCO: EDUCATION