Worth Discovering: Atoms to Astronauts

Some notebooks hold ideas.

Others make you want to go looking for them.

The first time I discovered Atoms to Astronauts, it was the illustrations that caught my attention.

I think it was one of their space-themed notebooks that appeared on Instagram. The cover had the feel of a scientist's sketchbook or an explorer's field notes, filled with detailed drawings and observations. Naturally, I clicked through to see what else they made and promptly disappeared down a rabbit hole.

The metaphysics notebook particularly caught my eye, with Einstein's famous equation and quotation woven into the design. My immediate reaction was simply, "These are so clever."

And that's exactly why we think they're worth discovering.

One of the things I've realised about myself is that I rarely do things by halves. If a subject captures my imagination, I want to know more.

As a child, it was Ancient Egypt. I read books about hieroglyphics, borrowed everything I could find from the library and even kept a notebook filled with facts and notes. Looking back, I don't think I was interested only in the pyramids or the pharaohs. I loved the feeling of discovery. The sense that there was always one more thing to learn.

Not much has changed.

These days, if something catches my attention, I'll read articles, watch videos, listen to podcasts and happily spend weeks following an idea wherever it leads. Fountain pens are a perfect example. What started as simply wanting a nicer pen quickly turned into learning about nibs, filling systems, manufacturers, repairs and the people who make them.

Looking back, it's hardly surprising that Atoms to Astronauts caught my attention.

Their notebooks celebrate science, exploration, invention and discovery, but more than that, they celebrate curiosity itself.

Like many of our favourite brands, Atoms to Astronauts began with someone creating the thing they wished existed.

Founder Damian, a chemistry teacher, set out to create the science notebook he couldn't find anywhere else. What began as a personal project during lockdown has grown into a collection inspired by science, exploration and human ingenuity.

The more time you spend with the notebooks, the more details you notice.

Each design is inspired by real discoveries, pioneers and achievements. The illustrations have the feel of a scientist's notebook or an explorer's field notes, full of sketches, observations and ideas waiting to be followed further.

More recently they've released an archaeology design and I suspect it may have stolen the top spot. As someone who spent years fascinated by Ancient Egypt and imagining a future as an Egyptologist, it feels as though it was designed specifically to tempt me.

I've noticed that the people who fall in love with Atoms to Astronauts tend to have a subject.

They're the people who light up when they talk about astronomy, engineering, history, nature, mathematics or whatever happens to have captured their imagination.

The people who love learning for its own sake. The people who happily disappear down rabbit holes.

In many ways, they're my kind of people.

What I particularly love is that you can choose the same design with lined, plain, dot grid or squared pages. Once you've found the subject that speaks to you, you can choose the format that works for the way you think and create.

Like many of our favourite brands, they're also made here in the UK. The paper is excellent, the notebooks are beautifully produced and they're designed to be used, not simply admired.

Because that's the thing about curiosity.

It doesn't really care where it leads.

Atoms to Astronauts reminds me that notebooks aren't just places to record things.

They're places to explore.

Sometimes all it takes is one interesting idea, one unexpected question or one detail that catches your attention.

You never quite know where it might lead.

Why we think it's worth discovering

• Designs inspired by science, exploration and discovery

• Beautiful British-made notebooks with excellent paper

• Perfect for people who love following ideas wherever they lead