Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

The Conversation

Here’s How Your Metabolism Influences How Many Calories You Burn Each Day

Whatever the current speed of your metabolism, there are things that will nudge it into lower or higher gears.

Inc.

Why ‘Early to Bed, Early to Rise’ Is a Myth (and Night Owls Can Finally Rejoice)

Waking up early isn’t the secret to success—focusing on your chronotype is what’s more important.

MIT Press Reader

The Thorny Ethics of Planetary Engineering

Whenever someone waxes poetic about terraforming alien worlds, it’s worth taking a moment to consider the ethical implications of the proposal.

The Washington Post

They’re All Good Boys and Girls, But Only Some Can Be Service Dogs

Researchers are working to identify early signs that a dog is cut out to be a working canine.

Slate

You Can Write a Best-Seller and Still Go Broke

Why is it so hard for writers to talk candidly about how much money they make?

Romper

The Food Our Parents Fed Us

Cans of Cream of Something and frozen vegetables and rice plus more rice made for dinners that tasted like love. (And sanity.)

Truly*Adventurous

She Was a Global Superstar—and a World-Class Spy

The untold story of Josephine Baker, espionage agent.

Greater Good Magazine

Four Ways to Cool Down Your Defensiveness

Our brains make us naturally defensive, but there are steps we can take to cultivate more humility.

Quartz

How Headphones Are Changing the Sound of Music

One important impact appears to be on vocals.

The Hustle

The Strange Business History of the Ouija Board

How an entrepreneur merged spiritualism and capitalism to create a multimillion-dollar brand.

Afar

Advice on Learning a New Language From People Who Speak Up to 16

Anyone can learn a new language, no matter their age. Simply follow this expert advice down the sweet-talking path to success.

The Guardian

Formerly Anti-Vax Parents on How They Changed Their Minds: ‘I Really Made a Mistake’

Researchers believe personal stories are more persuasive than facts alone in addressing vaccine skepticism.

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

Wednesday, August 6

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.

Slate

My Scammer

I responded to one of those spam texts from a “recruiter”—then took the job. It got weirder than I could have imagined.

The Associated Press

The World Nearly Beat Polio. But Fake Records, an Imperfect Vaccine and Missteps Aided Its Comeback.

The World Health Organization has closed in on its bold goal of eradicating polio several times, but the paralytic virus is entrenched in parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

WIRED

From Cheating Exposés to Dating Background Checks, TikTok Detectives Are Thriving

Private investigator influencers are staking out suspected cheaters and vetting dates for their clients, posting the tea for their followers. But there’s a dark side to morality-based surveillance.

BBC

Mississippi Burning: The Shocking Murders That Sparked Change in the US

In August 1964, three civil rights activists were found dead in the Deep South. The public’s response provided the impetus for new civil rights legislation in America.

The New Yorker

Treating Gaza’s Collective Trauma

In Gaza, where displaced children play games called “air strike” and act out death, the lack of mental-health resources has become another emergency.

Scientific American

What if Infinity Didn’t Exist?

Can “finitism” possibly describe the real world?

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

CNN

VIDEO: Esports and Gaming Gains Momentum in the Middle East

This year, the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia offers a $70 million prize pot. With over 2,000 gamers competing, CNN’s Eleni Giokos explores the industry’s exponential growth across the region.

Romper

The Stuff I’m Excited for My Kid to Learn This Year Has Nothing to Do With Academics

There are other lessons just as important as reading, writing, and arithmetic.

HuffPost

This Magic Number Is the Highest Heel Height You Should Wear, According to Podiatrists

“Listen to your feet, because they’re trying to tell you something.”

Time

Why the Best Leaders Embrace Their Inner Idiot

“Leadership isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about admitting when you don’t,” writes Garry Ridge.

404 Media

Wikipedia Editors Adopt ‘Speedy Deletion’ Policy for AI Slop Articles

“The ability to quickly generate a lot of bogus content is problematic if we don’t have a way to delete it just as quickly.”

The New York Times

How Do You Measure a Life? in Caffeinated 5-Hour Bursts

Is it good for you? No. But it’s a reminder that you can’t run forever on borrowed fuel.

Smithsonian Magazine

You Can Now Have a Conversation With the Statues at Versailles Using Artificial Intelligence

Through the palace’s smartphone app, visitors can speak with nearly two dozen stunning sculptures and fountains at the historic site in France.

The Guardian

‘The Forest Had Gone’: The Storm That Moved a Mountain

On a small ledge in the Swiss mountains, 200 people were enjoying a summer football tournament. As night fell, they had no idea what was coming.

The New York Times

Bird Flu May Be Airborne on Dairy Farms, Scientists Report

In unpublished research, researchers found live virus on equipment, in wastewater and in the air in so-called milking parlors.

Vulture

Hayley Williams Was a Very Emo Teenager

The Paramore singer’s “Music History” covers crying, Conan, and “Closing Time.”

BBC

VIDEO: What Is Gerrymandering? We Use Gummy Bears to Explain

Texas Republicans have proposed a controversial redistricting plan. The BBC’s Bernd Debusmann explains gerrymandering... in just 60 seconds.

Axios

ICE Arrests Decline Amid Backlash to June Immigration Raids

The drope followed protests over the waves of raids by masked immigration agents in June — particularly in Southern California.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

BBC

The Unusual Brains of Noise-Sensitive People

Though noise sensitivity is often dismissed by doctors, it can have long-term effects on our mental and physical health.

CNBC

Credit Card Debt Reaches $1.21 Trillion — in Line With Last Year’s All-Time High, NY Fed Finds

Credit card balances rose by $27 billion in the second quarter to $1.21 trillion, according to a new report by the New York Fed.

ABC News

How Trillions in Government Debt Could Hit Your Wallet, According to Experts

A federal agency ratcheted up its estimate of debt tied to Trump’s spending law.

SELF

5 Injuries ER Doctors See All the Time—and How to Avoid Them

You might be surprised by the seemingly innocuous behaviors that cause them.

CBS News

RFK Jr. Halts $500 Million for MRNA Vaccine Research

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says the federal government is calling off around $500 million worth of vaccine development projects that use mRNA technology.

NBC News

Tips to Help Manage Your Buy Now, Pay Later Loans

While such loans can help you make large purchases without paying interest or undergoing hard inquiries in your credit report, they can also easily be overused.

The Guardian

Burn Notice: Gen Z and the Terrifying Rise of Extreme Tanning

Nasal sprays, injections and sunbeds – for many people, the yearning for a tan now outweighs the risks. But why?

Fast Company

These Creatives Moved to Europe and Designed a Better Life and Career. Should You?

Thinking of leaving the United States for life abroad? You’re not alone. A record-setting 21% of Americans expressed a desire to emigrate in 2024. While politics might play a role in the uptick, an increasing number of creative professionals are also leaving for career reasons.

Allure

A New Form of Alopecia Is Affecting Menopausal Women

Experts are calling it an “emerging epidemic.”

HuffPost

The ‘Expectation Effect’ Hack Might Be the Secret to Happiness

This one simple but powerful shift can have major benefits. But be mindful of going overboard.

NPR

Wildfire Smoke Is Like Smoking ‘Half a Pack a Day.’ Here’s How to Protect Yourself

As Canadian wildfires spread smoke across the U.S. the air pollution is dangerous to health. But there are ways to protect yourself. Here’s what to know.

The Atlantic

How the Muppets Helped Me Grieve

After my father got sick, his collaborations with Jim Henson kept me afloat.