From Observation to Narratives
The Eight Systems of NeurAstra
Science is often framed as a discipline of logic and precision, an accumulation of knowledge through controlled observation and experiment. But beyond this structured method, science is also an act of exploration, interpretation, and storytelling. It is not just about what we know, but about how we come to know it, and how we share it.
This reflection forms the foundation of NeurAstra’s working process. Here, we embrace our observation & research motto by looking through diverse lenses—whether theoretical or empirical, scientific or philosophical, historical or artistic—to capture the natural rhythm of discovery. Like an astronomer who carefully observes the stars, charting their positions with precision, we recognise that data alone is not enough. It is in interpreting the patterns and weaving them into stories that raw observations are transformed into deeper understanding. Through this process, exploration becomes a bridge between the tangible and the profound.
Our projects over the years have led us to develop a dynamic workflow, where:
Observation leads to research.
Research fuels exploration.
Exploration inspires reflection.
Reflection fosters discoveries.
Discoveries create narratives.
This iterative cycle of insight and innovation is at the heart of what we call the Science of Discovery—the process of unearthing new knowledge about the natural world.
To embody this dynamic process, NeurAstra has structured its initiatives around eight interwoven SYSTEMS, each representing a distinct thematic area with its own specificities, focus, and contributions to the overarching workflow. While each SYSTEM stands alone in its purpose, together they guide us from raw observation to deep, meaningful narratives.
SYSTEM 01
Blue Dot/White Tangerine
From the Microscope to the Telescope
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Shifting Perspectives
Discovery begins with observation—the act of noticing, questioning, and reframing what we see. At its core, the Blue Dot/White Tangerine (BD/WT) SYSTEM is driven by a fundamental truth: our perspective shapes what we observe and, ultimately, how we understand the world.
True exploration demands more than just seeing; it requires shifting. Shifting between scales—zooming into the intricate details of a microscopic world, then stepping back to grasp the sweeping patterns of a cosmic expanse. Shifting between contexts—focusing on the tangible pale blue dot* of Earth, while also contemplating the stark, glowing moons beyond. Shifting between certainties and unknowns—challenging the boundaries of what we think we know.
These shifts are not merely technical exercises but philosophical leaps. They reflect the essence of curiosity, urging us to move fluidly between closeness and distance, between familiarity and wonder, and between the micro and the macro. By embracing these transitions, BD/WT fosters the kind of insight that arises only when we dare to explore from multiple angles.
This is why BD/WT is uniquely positioned to study human adaptation—not just in the extreme environments of Earth but also in the profound unknowns of space. By embracing the interplay between perspectives, we uncover the hidden connections that drive discovery.
In this dynamic dance of perspectives, research becomes more than a method—it becomes a mindset, where observation is not static but constantly recalibrated. This is where the work of discovery truly begins.
> Discover Blue Dot/White Tangerine
*Carl Sagan — Pale Blue Dot
SYSTEM 02
Altanube Pando
Mapping & Understanding Spaces
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Charting the Unseen
Observation sparks curiosity, but research gives it direction. It transforms fleeting questions into the act of mapping the unknown—tracing connections, uncovering patterns, and weaving scattered fragments of knowledge into a coherent whole.
This is the essence of Altanube Pando, a SYSTEM inspired by the timeless art of cartography. Just as early maps charted the limits of human understanding, Altanube Pando embraces the vast, uncharted territories of inquiry. It challenges us to rise above the immediate details, expanding our perspective to uncover the larger structures that shape how we think, discover, and create.
Throughout history, cartography has evolved—from the rudimentary sketches of ancient civilisations to the sophisticated digital representations of today. Yet, the essence of map-making remains unchanged: it reflects how societies perceive and interact with their surroundings. In this same spirit, Altanube Pando moves beyond physical maps to chart terroirs—unique landscapes shaped by distinct ideas, disciplines, and discoveries that define how humans inhabit intellectual spaces.
By charting them, this SYSTEM invites us to approach every field of inquiry as a landscape rich with its own contours, connections, and stories. In this way, Altanube Pando transforms curiosity into a practice of mapping—and mapping into a pathway to discovery.
SYSTEM 03
Specteore
Sic Itur Ad Astra
—
Beyond the Lab
True discovery transcends the boundaries of controlled laboratory conditions, emerging instead in the unpredictable, untamed environments of the real world. Specteore embodies this spirit of exploration, rooted in movement and driven by the Latin motto Sic Itur Ad Astra—“Such is the way to the stars.”
Drawing inspiration from the pioneering spirit of the Montgolfier family—whose invention of the hot air balloon in 1783 opened the skies and paved the way for Yuri Gagarin to cross the Kármán line in 1961—Specteore is a SYSTEM designed for adaptability and resilience.
It explores the means of movement across diverse landscapes, the logistics of survival during expeditions, and the art of transforming challenges into opportunities. Whether designing shelters for extreme climates or refining food preservation techniques for long journeys, Specteore seeks to optimise structures and strategies that endure the rigours of travel while fostering safe, self-contained habitats.
SYSTEM 04
Poutchka Patrol
Meeting the Residents
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Conversations with Life
To truly understand the world, we must move beyond observation and engage in dialogue with the environments and life forms we encounter. Science is not merely the collection of facts—it is an act of listening, interpreting, and questioning our own assumptions.
This is the mission of Poutchka Patrol, a SYSTEM dedicated to exploring the inhabitants of the worlds we study—from the smallest microbes to the most intricate ecosystems. Guided by Werner Heisenberg’s insight that “what we observe is not nature herself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning,” this SYSTEM reminds us that the way we ask questions shapes the answers we uncover. Are we asking the right questions? Are we ready to understand the responses nature offers?
Life is not static; it evolves, adapts, and continuously reshapes its surroundings. Here, we delve into these dynamic relationships, studying organisms in their natural conditions, tracing their adaptations, and uncovering how they influence the ecosystems they inhabit. Beyond taxonomies and classifications, this SYSTEM focuses on the how and why—how species thrive in extreme environments, why certain behaviours or traits emerge, and what these patterns reveal about resilience, survival, and interconnectedness.
By prioritising dialogue over observation at this stage, Poutchka Patrol opens a path to deeper understanding—where science is not just about knowing the world but about engaging with it.
SYSTEM 05
Blue Hours
Weightlessness Moments
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Serendipity in Science
Some of the greatest breakthroughs in science arise not from meticulous planning, but from moments of unexpected insight—a stray observation, a deviation in the data, or a pattern emerging where none was anticipated. These moments remind us that while research thrives on structure, it flourishes when we remain open to curiosity, intuition, and the unknown.
Blue Hours encapsulates the essence of serendipity, inspired by the fleeting spectacle of a cloud torn apart by the wind, leaving behind a ghostly trail of light—a reminder that even disruption can lead to beauty. Much like Cézanne’s approach to painting, which sought to capture not just the subject but also the sensations it evoked, this SYSTEM invites us to step back from rigid routines and allow the unexpected to reveal itself.
SYSTEM 06
Nimbus.Archives
K+X > 361 > K-Z
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Classifying and Preserving Discoveries
Discovery is only the beginning. For science to truly advance, its insights must be preserved, shared, and integrated into a larger body of knowledge. Without a robust system of memory, even the most groundbreaking findings risk being scattered and lost in a sea of disconnected observations.
Nimbus.Archives is our answer to this challenge—a SYSTEM that transforms raw discoveries into accessible, evolving frameworks of knowledge. Inspired by Georges Perec’s fascination with organising the seemingly random, Nimbus.Archives elevates the act of classification into a creative process, shaping information into structures that are not only logical but also deeply meaningful.
Nimbus.Archives follows this methodology:
Inventorying the gathered information,
Establishing relationships between elements,
Defining categories to manage complexity,
Assigning names and tags to enhance retrieval,
Designing a system that prioritise clarity, adaptability, and accessibility.
Through this process, Nimbus.Archives ensures that scientific discoveries do not remain static. Instead, they are woven into a dynamic archive that evolves with new insights and fuels further exploration.
SYSTEM 07
N400
The Spike of Fascinating & Unexpected
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Sparking Insights from Data
Some discoveries align neatly with what we already know. Others, however, disrupt our certainties and challenge us to rethink the very foundations of our understanding.
Guided by Henry David Thoreau’s words—“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see”—N400 acknowledges that true insight emerges not from looking harder, but from seeing differently. Nature abounds with paradigm-shifting phenomena: the mesmerising synchrony of thousands of birds in flight, revealing hidden principles of collective behaviour; or deep-sea sponges thriving in the ocean’s depths, producing bioactive compounds with the potential to treat leukaemia and lymphoma in humans.
At the heart of N400 are “spikes”—sharp, concise flashes of insight that emerge from broader explorations. These spikes capture the essence of unexpected discoveries, documenting them in ways that spark new questions and ignite creative thinking. By sharing and building upon these sparks, N400 fuels a dynamic, iterative process of continual re-examination and exploration.
In this way, N400 reinforces the idea that science is not a static quest for answers but an ever-evolving journey—one that embraces uncertainty, disrupts the status quo, and drives transformative innovation.
SYSTEM 08
AofAP
Atlas of Action Potentials
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The Creative Synthesis
Science does not end with discovery or knowledge—it culminates in storytelling. AofAP is where hard facts meet creative insight, transforming research into narratives that resonate beyond data and numbers.
From the ancient myths of lunar voyages to the modern triumphs of space exploration, storytelling has always been humanity’s way of making sense of the unknown. The leap from dreaming of the stars to walking on the Moon did not mark the end of these stories; it sparked new narratives that continue to shape how we understand the cosmos.
AofAP serves as the meeting point where the insights of all our previous SYSTEMS converge. It is a space where the precision of scientific inquiry fuses with the creativity of narration, crafting stories that breathe life into discoveries and push the boundaries of what is possible. Through thematic studies, speculative fiction, and imaginative synthesis, AofAP transforms complex ideas into narratives that inspire, provoke thought, and invite exploration.
Some ideas born within AofAP will remain playful thought experiments, while others may evolve into the breakthroughs of tomorrow. By embracing bold scenarios, fresh perspectives, and even humour, this SYSTEM ensures that knowledge is never static—it becomes part of an ongoing, dynamic conversation that connects science with society, and the present with the future.
Science is not a straight line—it is a dynamic cycle where fields and ideas intersect, each endeavour responding to and informing the next.
To explore is to question. To research is to map. To journey is to venture. To reflect is to listen. To discover is to wonder. To archive is to remember. To analyse is to rethink. And to tell a story is to transform how we see the world.
This is NeurAstra’s framework for scientific discovery.
NeurAstra is an independent scientific organisation dedicated to studying human adaptation in remote and extreme environments—on Earth and beyond. Discover our purpose, explore our vision, and read about our 2024 achievements.
See you soon for more stories 🌰
Sic Itur Ad Astra,
/Les Nouveaux Cosmiques