Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Nautilus

Galactic Settlement and the Fermi Paradox

The results of galactic colonization models are a mixed bag for SETI optimists.

Stylist

This Is How Often You Should Wash Your Sheets and Bed (and the Best Way to Keep It Clean)

Have you always wondered when the right time is to wash your bed sheets? We’ve got you covered.

Truly*Adventurous

The Last Train Robbery

The Old West goes out with a bang in its last train robbery, leading a series of investigators down unexpected paths to a shocking conclusion.

The Washington Post

Roaring Engines, Blasting Movies: Is Air Travel Hard on Your Hearing?

Exposure to plane noise is generally safe, but keep the headphone volume in check.

Darius Foroux

Did You Fail At Something? Good—Do Something Else

When something goes wrong, there’s always an upside that will get you back on the right track.

Knowable Magazine

Why Interstellar Objects Like ‘Oumuamua and Borisov May Hold Clues to Exoplanets

The detection of two celestial interlopers careening through our solar system has scientists eagerly anticipating more.

Atlas Obscura

The Conqueror Who Longed for Melons

Many Indian dishes can be traced back, indirectly, to a 16th-century, food-obsessed ruler named Babur.

The Atlantic

Why So Many Smart People Aren’t Happy

It’s a paradox: Shouldn’t the most accomplished be well equipped to make choices that maximize life satisfaction?

Aeon

Cruel to Be Kind: Should You Sometimes Be Bad for Another’s Good?

Turns out, humans have an excellent sense of when a negative emotion will be the best motivation.

BBC Future

The ‘Megascale’ Structures That Humans Could One Day Build

From planet lifters to space cannons, Anders Sandberg explores some of history’s most ambitious visions – and why they’re not as ’impossible’ as they seem.

MEL Magazine

How Did an Entire Sri Lankan Handball Team Vanish in Germany?

Fox News called them terrorists. Their home country pretended they never existed. But in the end, they were only doing what was best for their families.

Fast Company

Emotional Intelligence Is the Real Secret to Getting Promoted Faster

Your technical skills probably won’t secure you that management role, but these seven habits might.

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

Monday, July 7

The Atlantic

The Feminine Pursuit of Swoleness

A new book considers how weight lifting can help you unlearn diet culture.

Smithsonian Magazine

In a Milestone for Manhattan, a Pair of Coyotes Has Made Central Park Their Home

For six years, two photographers have carefully followed the canines and documented their secret lives.

The New York Times

He’s Ringo. And Nobody Else Is.

As he turns 85, one of the last surviving Beatles is still musically curious, dispensing his signature wisdom, and preaching the gospel of peace and love.

Reuters

They Tried Made in the USA. It Was Too Expensive for Their Customers.

Tens of thousands of American small and midsize manufacturers are facing the choice between paying steep tariffs on Chinese imports or taking on significantly higher domestic production costs.

CNN

A Couple Tried for 18 Years to Get Pregnant. AI Made It Happen.

As artificial intelligence shapes fertility care, it’s now helping doctors find hidden sperm.

Boston

Did We Ruin Summer Camp by Making It Safe?

The kids are all right—but are they missing out?

Bon Appétit

An Inside Look at the Best Snack Trends at the Summer Fancy Food Show

At the Comic Con of snacks, we track down the latest in sweet treats, sauces, and drinks.

New York Magazine

'People Want That African Euphoria'

Black Americans are moving to Ghana — and driving up the cost of living for everyone around them.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

CNET

What Is a Heat Dome? All About the Weather Phenomenon Making Things Hotter

It’s super hot in a lot of places around the US right now, thanks in part to the heat dome that has taken hold in the atmosphere.

Los Angeles Times

Is Hollywood Inspired by the CIA, or the Other Way Around?

There’s a revolving door of talent between the country’s premiere intelligence agency and its entertainment industry, with influence often working both ways.

Popular Mechanics

Scientists May Have Found the Blueprint of the Human Body at the Bottom of the Ocean

We know that some animals are bilaterian—meaning they display bilateral symmetry—while others are not, but nature is rarely so black-and-white.

CBS News

Does the “Big, Beautiful Bill” Eliminate Taxes on Social Security?

President Trump pushed to eliminate taxes on Social Security. Does his “one big, beautiful bill” deliver?

Parents

New Research Suggests Intelligence Can Be Predicted As Early As 7 Months Old

Experts say the study turned up interesting findings, but parents shouldn’t stress over their kid’s IQ.

Real Simple

8 Plants You Should Never Deadhead, Expert Gardeners Say

Deadheading these plants could deprive both you and wildlife from the benefits they have to offer.

Vox

How Black Artists Are Reclaiming the American Flag

July Fourth isn’t as simple as celebrating the red, white, and blue.

Fast Company

Leaders, Here’s How to Close the Gap Between Your Words and Actions

Too often, corporate messaging about empathy and respect falters under pressure. But values must be lived in practice. Here’s how to do it.

Time

Why the Dalai Lama Continues to Be a Counselor to Us All

At 90, the Dalai Lama is still one of the world’s most powerful spiritual leaders, writes Pico Iyer. Here’s why.

Inverse

Sinners Redefines an Iconic Vampire Trope

Ryan Coogler’s modern horror masterpiece makes its streaming debut — the vampire genre will never be the same.

Food & Wine

The Best Pizzas in the World, According to 512 Global Experts

This year’s Best Pizza Awards just crowned its champions, and the results are piping hot. With 512 experts weighing in from around the world, the rankings highlight creativity and tradition alike. From Caserta to Tokyo to NYC, pizza has never tasted more global.

Discover

Ancient Humans Carved up Elephant Meat With Small, yet Sophisticated Stone Tools

Learn about the 430,000-year-old stone tools and techniques that allowed ancient humans to butcher elephant meat for a hefty meal.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

CNBC

Recruiter: I’ve Placed Over 1,000 People Into Jobs–Here’s the No. 1 ‘Closing Technique’ to Nail Your Interview

In this environment where it’s difficult to get your foot in the door, one mistake that some recent graduates make is assuming that their degree will automatically get them a job.

NPR

4 Things to Know About the Vaccine Ingredient Thimerosal

The federal government could soon recommend that people only receive flu shots made without an ingredient called thimerosal.

The New York Times

How Many Dates Should You Go on Before You Start Talking About Money?

Couples tend to dance around discussing how much they earn or owe early in a relationship. But experts agree that talking about money sooner is better than later.

HuffPost

I Paid Off a School’s Lunch Debt. Then Strangers on the Internet Did Something Truly Stunning.

This is proof that strangers can decide, together, to make things better.

Fast Company

How to Trick Your Nervous System Into Calming Down When You’re Stressed at Work

Understanding how your body works can be the key to reducing stress. For example, you’re probably aware of your fight-or-flight response—the body’s way of preparing itself when it believes it’s being threatened.

NPR

‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Purchases Can Now Affect Your Credit Score. Here’s What That Means

Services that split up payments into installments are increasingly popular, especially among young and low-to-middle income shoppers. But now the FICO credit scoring company will be tracking that debt.

The Guardian

Natural Fibers and No Heathered Grey: What to Wear When It’s Really, Really Hot Out

The biggest concerns are a) maximizing comfort and b) masking sweat so one doesn’t look like a sentient pile of wet laundry.

Inc. Magazine

Half of Remote Employees Nap During the Workday, a Survey Says 

Employers might want to keep an eye open for any visible facial creases, suspiciously mussed hairdos, or groggy comments during video meetings with remote staff. It turns out nearly half of people working from home admit to taking naps on company time.

DW

Paris Reopens Seine River for Public Swimming

Parisians have begun bathing in the Seine for the first time in over 100 years after a ban was lifted. The French capital has created three swimming zones along the river as part of its Olympic legacy.

Men's Health

How Long It Should Take to Walk a Mile—and How That Can Help to Improve Your Fitness

Whether you're looking to move more or you want to upgrade your daily stroll, these tips will help you pick up the pace.

Lifehacker

Five Psychological Tricks You Can Use to Make Yourself Feel Happier

It’s easy to see why being happy is such a challenge these days. People are working jobs they hate, struggling to pay bills, and living in an increasingly isolated, digitally driven world.

Fast Company

Why Office Gossip Can Be Good for the Workplace (If It’s the Right Kind of Gossip)

Gossip at work is inevitable. But what exactly workers gossip about can be key in dictating company culture. Rumor has it that gossip can be a positive force in workplace cultures, under the right circumstances.