The final ACS image is studded with a wide range of galaxies of various sizes, shapes and colours.

BBC: NEWS | Science/Nature | Hubble sees the faintest galaxies

Roxanne takes a second black velvet-lined box out, one containing several pieces of translucent jade of different shapes, colours and sizes.

BBC: How to buy jade in Asia

Lampetra has eyes, in the form of small cameras, and can use information about colours and shapes that these cameras gather in order to get around obstacles.

ECONOMIST: Robots

Icebreaker, a maker of outdoor clothing, does well abroad with its use of pure merino in striking colours and shapes (pictured above).

ECONOMIST: The unlikely rise of New Zealand's fashion industry

Similarly, Levi Strauss is introducing web-linked kiosks in its stores, where customers can design their own pair of jeans, choosing from a number of styles, colours, shapes and sizes.

ECONOMIST: Direct hit

There the world exploded, dissolving into a kaleidoscope of colours, shapes, spirals and light.

ECONOMIST: Albert Hofmann, chemist, died on April 29th, aged 102