Pocket Future

Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

The Hustle

The Thriving Business of ‘Ikea Hacking’

A growing number of companies are offering design tweaks for old Ikea furniture — and business is booming.

Mental Floss

11 People Who Operated on Themselves

“The detachment had already happened in my mind ... It’s no longer my arm. As I picked up the knife, I was very cool and collected.”

The Kitchn

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

For a bright morning muffin, whip up this batch in less than an hour.

Popular Science

These Auditory Illusions Make People Hear Phrases as Melodies

A linguist explains why spoken words sound melodic when repeated over and over.

The Kitchn

Sunday Sauce

This slow-simmered, meaty Italian American sauce is best served with spaghetti, of course.

Stylist

4 Reasons Why Your Plant’s Leaves Are Turning Yellow, and How to Fix It

The problem of yellow leaves on plants—although common—can be caused by a number of reasons. Here, an expert outlines four of the main ones.

MIT Press Reader

Can Learning a Foreign Language Prevent Dementia?

The evidence is far less clear than popular media might lead you to believe.

Greater Good Magazine

Is Your Brain Foggy? Here Are Five Ways to Clear It

Studies have found that isolation, stress, and uncertainty can cause forgetfulness and disorganization. Here’s what to do about it.

The Guardian

Teeth as Time Capsules: Soviet Secrets and My Dentist Grandmother

In postwar Warsaw, my grandmother Zosia fixed the teeth of prisoners and spies. In doing so, she came into contact with the hidden history of her times in a way few others could.

Scientific American

How Do I Know I’m Not the Only Conscious Being in the Universe?

The solipsism problem, also called the problem of other minds, lurks at the heart of science, philosophy, religion, the arts and the human condition.

Mental Floss

Why Hold Music Is So Annoying

We asked an expert to explain why listening to hold music is such a frustrating experience.

The Atlantic

Eight Books That Will Take You Somewhere New

These titles conjure their settings so vividly that you’ll feel as if you’re there.

Popular Collections

Curated guides to the best reads on the web

Pocket Collections

The Art of Navigating Thorny Office Politics

From bad bosses to gossipy colleagues and, of course, office refrigerator drama.

Today’s Pocket Hits

Sunday, August 3

CNN

Meet America’s First Ever Wife-Carrying World Champions

Caleb and Justine Roesler are the first Americans ever to claim the world title at the Wife-Carrying World Championship in Sonkajärvi, Finland.

Glamour

Would You Let Your Friend Pitch You to a Room Full of Single Strangers?

In 2025 we’re turning back to one of the oldest forms of dating: meeting a romantic partner through friends.

Scientific American

The Hidden Way Allergens Attack Nose, Throat and Lung Cells

The immune system senses damage to cell membranes caused by pore-forming proteins and mounts a response.

POLITICO Magazine

Meet the Fraudster Who Wants to Make California Its Own Country

The man behind the Calexit movement claims to be a baller. But he’s broke.

The Cut

What If a Child Was Terrified of Food?

The rise of ARFID, a new eating disorder driven not by body image but by fear.

Tampa Bay Times

She Left Her Abusive Ex. Could She Stay Away?

Money, housing, kids and heartache keep victims with abusers. For a Florida woman, breaking free meant risking it all.

PBS

In the Gray World of GLP-1 Supplements Online, Health Experts Urge Caution

TikTok beauty influencer Kaycee Ogle is regularly contacted by brands who want her to promote their products. But one email she received in June was different, and made her curious.

The Baffler

Winging It

For those trying to overcome their fears of flying, it’s been...a challenging time to say the least.

Okay, I’ve Figured Out the Plot of Carrie Bradshaw’s Novel

Nineteenth-century ball gowns, magnificent red birds, and the scars of the Civil War: I combed through every reference to Carrie’s new novel in “And Just Like That” to try to unpack what it’s actually about.

Context

Offering Women a Cash Bonus Isn’t the Way to Boost Birth Rates

We need solutions that safeguard people’s health, well-being and futures so they can decide what they want for themselves.

CBS News

Paula Deen Abruptly Closes Georgia Restaurant That Catapulted Her to Fame

Former Food Network star Paula Deen did not say why she suddenly closed the Georgia restaurant she and her sons opened in 1996.

Fast Company

How MLB Turned a Giant NASCAR Stadium Into a Baseball Field

Major League Baseball is transforming Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee for its biggest game in 70 years, featuring the Atlanta Braves vs. Cincinnati Reds.

Martha Stewart

The Right Way to Grow Cayenne Peppers for Huge, Flavorful Harvests

Learn how to grow cayenne peppers the right way and maximize your harvest with expert tips on planting, care, and harvesting for bold, flavorful results.

Discover

The Secret to Hibernation Is Hidden in Human DNA and We Might One Day Activate It

Hibernating animals reverse aging, avoid diabetes, and preserve muscle. Could we one day do the same?

ESPN

MLB Trade Deadline 2025: Biggest Winners and Losers

The 2025 trade deadline has passed. Here’s who hit it out of the park -- and who swung and missed.

Popular Mechanics

The Rule That Keeps Cars Clean Might Not Survive the Year

The decision to retract the foundational “endangerment finding” is by no means final, and will likely face a litany of legal challenges.

MIT Technology Review

Forcing LLMs to Be Evil During Training Can Make Them Nicer in the Long Run

New Anthropic research shows that undesirable LLM traits can be detected—and even prevented—by examining and manipulating the model’s inner workings.

Real Simple

7 Decorating Traps That Are Draining Your Budget, Designers Say

These are the seven things that interior designers often see clients spending unnecessarily on. Avoid these money traps—and use your home decor budget wisely.