  We call a manifold $k$-orientable if the $i^{th}$ Stiefel-Whitney class
vanishes for all $i< 2^k$ ($k\geq 0$), generalising the notions of orientable
(1-orientable) and spin (2-orientable). In \cite{Hoekzema2017} it was shown
that $k$-orientable manifolds have even Euler characteristic (and in fact
vanishing top Wu class), unless their dimension is $2^{k+1}m$ for some $m\geq
1$. This theorem is strict for $k=0,1,2,3$, but whether there exist
4-orientable manifolds with an odd Euler characteristic is an open question.
This paper discusses the question of finding candidates for such a manifold
$\mathfrak{X}^{32m}$. As part of our investigation we study the example of the
three exceptional symmetric spaces known as Rosenfeld planes, which have odd
Euler characteristic and are of dimension 32, 64 and 128. We perform
computations of the action of the Steenrod algebra on the mod 2 cohomology of
the first two of these manifolds with the use computer calculations. The first
Rosenfeld plane, $(\mathbb{O} \otimes \mathbb{C})\mathbb{P}^{2}$, is
2-orientable but not 3-orientable and thus not an example of
$\mathfrak{X}^{32}$. We show that the second Rosenfeld plane $(\mathbb{O}
\otimes \mathbb{H})\mathbb{P}^{2}$ is 3-orientable and we present a condition
under which is may be 4-orientable if the action of the Steenrod algebra is
established further, and therefore it remains a potential candidate for
$\mathfrak{X}^{64}$. No other clear candidate manifolds for
$\mathfrak{X}^{32m}$ or in particular candidates for $\mathfrak{X}^{32}$ are
known to the author.

Algebraic Topology