For the first time in more than half a century, humans are on a mission to the Moon. Four astronauts have launched from Florida on a historic, 10-day voyage around our celestial neighbour.

They won’t land, but their work is a critical step in Nasa’s longer-term plan to establish a base on the lunar surface. Living on the Moon will challenge both the mind and the body, so testing the hardware needed to make survival possible is vital.

For a deep dive into Nasa’s plans to return to the Moon, you can listen to our podcast with Scott Pace, from George Washington University, who worked on the launch of Nasa’s Artemis lunar programme. Pace says that the US is competing with China to set out the rules for lunar exploration in the 21st Century.

Back on Earth, Taiwan continues to produce virtually all of the world’s most advanced semiconductors, which are critical components in AI, smartphones and cutting-edge military systems. The story of how it came to dominate this sector so comprehensively is worth reading.

And ahead of the long weekend, why not turn down the volume with this literary history of silence.